Spring Training Game Twenty-Six: Cubs (10-15) vs. Angels (11-12)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: MLB Network – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 177
Location – Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
Andrew Cashner (1-1, 3.97/1.59) vs. Jered Weaver (1-0, 4.73/0.90)
Cubs vs. Angels in Tempe called off because of rain after Cubs finished hitting in top of 4th. Cubs led 7-4 at the time.
Weather permitting … The Cubs will go for two spring wins in a row behind Andrew Cashner. Q’s crew has a lot of work to do with just nine practice games left on the schedule. If the weather expected in the Phoenix area wipes out today’s game, the Cubs will be down to just eight exhibition contests to try to find answers to a lot of questions.
Andrew Cashner has all but locked up the fifth spot in the Cubs’ Opening Day rotation … and the very talented right-hander needs a good outing today.
After be scratched from Sunday’s game with 102 degree temperature, Aramis Ramirez is supposed to be back in the starting lineup this afternoon … Quade has him in the cleanup spot against Jered Weaver. After outings by Carlos Silva (Friday) and Braden Looper (Saturday), Andrew Cashner has all but nailed down the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation. Cashner has been very good in spurts this spring … and not so good in others. Cashner needs a solid, consistent outing this afternoon that results in a bunch of strikes and a bunch of outs.
Cashner will make just his third start of the spring, fifth outing. He has allowed five runs, all earned, on 11 hits in 11 1/3 innings with a hit batsman, seven walks and six strikeouts.
In other news … Augie Ojeda was scheduled to have an epidural Monday to help with back spasms that has kept him out of games for the last ten days. Ojeda will reportedly be out an additional two to three days. Darwin Barney has passed Ojeda this spring and figures to begin the season with at least a bench job on the big league team.
Cubs lineup vs. Angels – 3/21
Kosuke Fukudome – RF
Starlin Castro – SS
Marlon Byrd – CF
Aramis Ramirez – 3B
Carlos Pena – 1B
Alfonso Soriano – LF
Geovany Soto – C
Darwin Barney – 2B
Andrew Cashner – P
Jered Weaver should start his third consecutive Opening Day for the Angels. Mike Scioscia has not officially named Weaver his Opening Day starter, but all signs point to Weaver taking the hill in the first game of the year.
Weaver is arguably the most underrated pitcher in the big leagues. Weaver has dominated this spring to the tune of 17 strikeouts to zero walks in 13 1/3 innings. Today will be Weaver’s fifth start of the spring … eight runs, seven earned, on 12 hits in his first four starts.
Kevin Jepsen, Francisco Rodriguez and Jason Bulger are scheduled to follow Weaver to the hill Monday afternoon.
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