Spring Training Game Twenty-Nine: Cubs (12-16) vs. Mariners (ss) (13-9)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: WGN TV/MLB Network – Radio: Cubs.com Webcast
Location – HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Randy Wells (1-1, 1.35/0.70) vs. Aaron Laffey (1-0, 1.50/1.50)
Updated 12:45pm CDT – Randy Wells was informed that he is the Cubs’ fourth starter Friday morning.
Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner and James Russell have been told they’ve made the team. Cashner’s spot (rotation/bullen) is yet to be determined. Final pitching spot down to Braden Looper, Carlos Silva, Marcos Mateo and Casey Coleman.
Updated 4:29pm CDT – According to multiple reports, Braden Looper announced his retirement after finding out he would not make the team. Carlos Silva will make the team barring a trade.
The first pitch of the Cubs 2011 Season is just seven days away … one week until the Cubs face Kevin Correia and the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
Randy Wells began camp in the mix for one of the final two spots in the Cubs’ rotation. Wells took the competition seriously and locked up the fourth spot with an excellent spring. Wells has done everything the Cubs asked him to do to this point. Wells still needs to finish strong in his last Cactus League start … and take his excellent spring into his first start on April 4 against the Diamondbacks.
Wells and the Cubs will face a Mariners’ split squad … while the other half of the Mariners’ roster will host the Dodgers in Peoria. Randy Wells will make his fifth start, sixth appearance, of the spring this afternoon. Wells has allowed five runs, three earned, on 11 hits with three walks and 15 strikeouts in 20 innings of work.
Wells should get some work in during the Cubs intrasquad game Wednesday, March 30. With only four Cactus League games remaining after today, Wells will not face another team until April 4 at Wrigley Field.
Aaron Laffey was a non-roster invitee to big league camp and is battling for a spot in Seattle’s bullpen. Laffey will make his first start of the spring this afternoon. Laffey has appeared in five games and allowed one run on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts in six innings of work.
Tom Wilhelmsen, Cesar Jimenez and Chris Ray are scheduled to follow Laffey.
In the Mariners’ only split squad action of the spring (the Cubs had four split squad days), Erik Bedard will start the game against the Dodgers Friday night.
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