Spring Training Game Thirty-One: Cubs (14-16) vs. Rockies (ss) (18-9-1)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN
Location – HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Ryan Dempster (1-0, 1.88/0.83) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 4.73/1.28)
The Cubs begin the last week of games in the Cactus League this afternoon in a battle of Opening Day starters. The first pitch of the Cubs 2011 Season is just five days away.
Today is Ryan Dempster’s final tuneup of the spring after putting together a very good exhibition season. Not only has Dempster gotten his work in but he has also thrown strikes, limited his walks and kept the ball in the park.
Mike Quade announced Saturday that Randy Wells would pitch in Wednesday’s Intrasquad game and Andrew Cashner will stay in Arizona an extra day to throw in a minor league game Thursday. Ryan Dempster will make his sixth and final spring start this afternoon. Dempster has allowed five runs, all earned, on 17 hits with three walks and 21 strikeouts in 24 innings (five starts). Dempster has been sharp while compiling more innings than any other pitcher on Q’s staff (Dempster enters Sunday’s start just 1 2/3 innings behind Randy Wells who has already made six appearances this spring).
The Cubs’ offense will face one of the best young arms in the league this afternoon. Ubaldo Jimenez, who made his first big league start against the Cubs on the final day of the 2006 season, is coming off a tremendous year.
Jimenez has allowed seven runs on 11 hits in just 13 1/3 innings this spring with six walks and six strikeouts. Today will be Jimenez’s fifth start of the spring.
The other half of Jim Tracy’s roster will host the Oakland A’s in Scottsdale.
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