Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Astros – 06/01/11

Doug Davis (0-3, 6.75/1.95) vs. Brett Myers (1-4, 5.11/1.53)

When the Cubs current nine-game homestand began on May 24, the Cubs talked about the importance of winning games and getting back to .500 before heading back on the road. Well, eight games later (3-5) the Cubs are a season-low seven games below .500 and have won only one time in their last five games.

The Cubs continue to find ways to lose and unless Q’s squad can accomplish something a Cubs’ team has not done since 2007, they will be swept at home by the soon-to-be fifth place Houston Astros.

Houston, like Pittsburgh, has owned the Cubs at Wrigley over the last two seasons. The Astros won all three series in Chicago last season and have won eight of the last 11 games at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs must figure out a way to make Wrigley Field a home field advantage again … the Cubs are 12-18 at the old ballyard this season.

During the pre-game show on WGN Radio Tuesday, Mike Quade said that Tyler Colvin would be in the starting lineup this afternoon. Quade is expected to fill his lineup with lefties against Brett Myers, who is struggling with southpaws this season.

In other news … Matt Garza is expected to throw a couple of side sessions in the coming days. Garza could be activated and start the opener Monday in Cincinnati Monday, if all goes well. Randy Wells, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano are penciled in right now to start the three games in St. Louis over the weekend.

And on the day Carlos Zambrano turns the big 3-0, it all starts with Doug Davis … Doug Davis could be pitching to keep his spot in the Cubs rotation. Either Davis or Rodrigo Lopez is expected to go to the pen once Matt Garza is activated from the DL. Davis has struggled, like many thought he would, and needs to pitch against the Astros today like he used to against the Cubs.

Davis is coming off a pathetic outing against the Pirates. Davis actually issued more walks (6) than hits (4) and he committed one of the Cubs two errors … that of course led to a run. Davis lasted just 4 2/3 innings and threw near 100 pitches. If Davis performs that way this afternoon, Carlos Lee and company will have their second four-homer game of the series.

For as brutal as Davis has been, the veteran southpaw is 0-2 at Wrigley this season with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.

Doug Davis is 3-11 in 17 career starts versus Houston with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

Astros Career Numbers against Doug Davis

• Clint Barmes – 3-for-11 with a home run and a walk
• Bill Hall – 2-for-6 with a home run
• Jeff Keppinger – 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk
• Carlos Lee – 7-for-13 with 2 walks
• Jason Michaels – 2-for-6 with 2 walks
• Hunter Pence – 1-for-2 with a walk

Brett Myers owns the Chicago Cubs and to further prove the point, Myers’ only win this season was against the Cubs back on April 12 (one run on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts in seven innings) and he’s been awful in just about every start since. The Cubs have not beaten Myers since August 1, 2007 and he owns a dominating 11-3 record versus the Cubs with a 2.15 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in 18 games, 14 starts.

Myers is coming off a no decision to the D’Backs. Arizona plated four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings … and they took Myers deep twice.

Myers is 0-3 in his last five starts with a 6.90 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP … on the road this season, 0-2 in six starts with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Brett Myers

• Darwin Barney – 0-for-6
• Starlin Castro – 4-for-16 with a double
• Tyler Colvin – 5-for-17 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs
• Blake DeWitt – 0-for-3
• Kosuke Fukudome – 2-for-14 with a walk
• Koyie Hill – 1-for-10 with a double
• Carlos Pena – 1-for-8
• Aramis Ramirez – 9-for-40 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and a walk
• Geovany Soto – 3-for-11 with a walk

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