Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Dodgers – 05/04/11

Carlos Zambrano (3-1, 4.91/1.28) vs. Ted Lilly (2-2, 4.45/1.45)

Can Q’s squad close out a series with a win behind Carlos Zambrano? The Cubs have a chance to win a road series this afternoon and finish a seven-game West Coast swing with a winning record … and all they have to do is beat Ted Lilly and the Dodgers.

The Cubs have not fared well closing out series this season. The Cubs are just 1-8 in the last games of series and must find a way to close out series with victories.

After today’s game, the Cubs are done with the Dodgers for the 2011 campaign. Don Mattingly’s team took two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley and it would be nice to see Q’s squad return the favor. The Cubs are 2-3 versus the Dodgers this season … and 3-3 on the seven-game trip with one left to go.

News and Notes
Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner will throw off a mound for the second time Wednesday morning. The Cubs are hopeful both Wells and Cashner will return at some point in late May. Both pitchers could throw a simulated game early next week if all goes as planned.

Mike Quade is hoping to have Jeff Baker back in the starting lineup this afternoon. Baker has been sidelined with a sore left shoulder since Saturday. With Ted Lilly on the mound, Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney should be back at the top of the lineup … that is if Quade does not decided to give Castro a breather.

The Cubs need another quality start from Z this afternoon … and today it all begins with Carlos Zambrano. Carlos Zambrano is coming off his third win of the season, a solid six-inning performance against the D’Backs. Z held Arizona to two runs on four hits but issued three walks and struck out only two.

Big Z faced the Dodgers during the series at Wrigley and lost his first game since last August. The Dodgers scored five runs in the first inning and ended up putting a six-spot on the board in five innings. The Dodgers came out swinging and hopefully Z will remember and make adjustments this afternoon.

Zambrano is 2-4 in 13 career games, nine starts, against the Dodgers with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP … at Dodger Stadium, 2-1 in seven games, five starts, with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.

Dodgers Career Numbers against Carlos Zambrano

• Rod Barajas – 0-for-4
• Jamey Carroll – 1-for-8 with a double
• Andre Ethier – 7-for-16 with a double and a walk
• Jay Gibbons – 1-for-1
• Tony Gwynn, Jr. – 5-for-12 with a double and a walk
• Matt Kemp – 5-for-9 with a double, a home run and a walk
• James Loney – 4-for-13 with a walk
• Aaron Miles – 10-for-34 with a double, a triple and 2 walks
• Jerry Sands – 1-for-3 with a double
• Juan Uribe – 6-for-28 with a double, a home run and 2 walks

The Cubs will face Ted Lilly for the second time and must use the same approach they did against ‘The Bulldog‘ when they faced him at Wrigley. The Cubs pounded out 11 hits and scored five runs in 4 1/3 innings on Lilly back on April 23. They knocked out Lilly before Dempster imploded and started serving up longballs. The Cubs offense made Lilly work and simply beat him at his own game.

Lilly is much better at Dodger Stadium than on the road (2-1 in three starts with a 2.55 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP) but the Cubs must not swing at his pitch.

Theodore is coming off a win against the Padres in which he allowed one run on five hits in six innings of work.

Cubs Career Numbers against Ted Lilly

• Jeff Baker – 4-for-9 with 2 doubles, a home run and a walk
• Darwin Barney – 3-for-3 with a double
• Marlon Byrd – 7-for-14 with a double
• Starlin Castro – 3-for-3 with a double
• Blake DeWitt – 0-for-3
• Reed Johnson – 3-for-7 with 2 doubles and a walk
• Carlos Pena – 1-for-5 with a double
• Aramis Ramirez – 0-for-2
• Alfonso Soriano – 4-for-12 with a double, a triple and 5 walks
• Geovany Soto – 1-for-1 with a walk

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