Spring Training Game Nineteen: Cubs (8-10) vs. Mariners (9-4)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: None – Radio: Cubs.com Webcast
Location – Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria
Matt Garza (0-2, 14.85/2.25) vs. Doug Fister (1-1, 5.00/1.22)
The next few days should be anything but boring for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have played 18 of their 34 Spring Training games and open the 2011 season two weeks from Friday at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs first, and only, off day of the spring is Wednesday. Jim Hendry and Mike Quade are expected to announce several cuts following Tuesday’s final split squad day. The Cubs Spring Training roster currently stands at 58 players after Esmailin Caridad and John Gaub were optioned to Triple-A Iowa last Friday.
Today is a big start for Matt Garza. While it is only Spring Training, Garza started throwing breaking stuff in his last outing. After not being able to locate his fastball, Garza began mixing in breaking balls and saw immediate results. Matt Garza will make his fourth appearance, third start, of the spring this afternoon. Garza has been hit around pretty good and needs to put together a good outing against an offensively challenged team.
Garza has allowed 11 runs, all earned, on ten hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Doug Fister will make his fourth start of the spring. Fister has allowed five runs on 10 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in nine innings.
The Cubs will get their first look Eric Wedge (one of the finalists for the Cubs’ managerial job) in a Mariners’ uniform. Milton Bradley, who is having a very good spring, should be in Wedge’s starting lineup this afternoon.
David Pauley, Cesar Jimenez and Cub-for-a-minute Garrett Olson are slated to follow Fister in the Mariners’ pitching rotation for Monday.
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