Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Phillies – 06/12/11

Doug Davis (0-5, 6.38/1.83) vs. Roy Oswalt (3-4, 3.05/1.30)

Weather permitting … The difficult 10-game road trip comes to an end this afternoon with the last of four in Philadelphia. The Cubs have seen a lot of red on this trip and have not scored many runs (outscored 48-23 in the first nine games, 2-7 record). Q’s offense has scored more than four runs once since May 31.

The Cubs made two roster moves Saturday (recalled Casey Coleman and DFA’d Brad Snyder) and are expected to wait until Monday to activate both Reed Johnson and Jeff Baker. Mike Quade should let Darwin Barney have the day off and give D.J. LeMahieu his first big league start at second base. LeMahieu figures to be optioned to Iowa in order to make room on the active roster for Jeff Baker.

Reed Johnson was hit in the helmet during the second game of a doubleheader Saturday in Iowa. Johnson was taken to a local hospital and received stitches for a cut on his head. Johnson was reportedly kept in the hospital overnight for observation. No official word on whether he will rejoin the team as planned on Monday. Johnson and Baker were scheduled to make their way from Des Moines to Chicago Sunday.

Alfonso Soriano is expected to begin his rehab stint with the I-Cubs this afternoon. If all goes well, Soriano will rejoin the big league team Wednesday.

Q’s squad has won only one game on Sunday this season (1-8) and only twice since Quade took over for Lou Piniella last August … today it all starts with Doug Davis. Doug Davis is winless as a Cub and is coming off another poor start. Davis lasted just 4 1/3 innings against the Reds and gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Davis has struggled throwing strikes and locating his fastball. If he has trouble again today, the 0-2 road mark with a 12.38 ERA and a 2.63 WHIP will get even worse.

Davis is 2-2 in eight career starts against the Phillies with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The last time he faced Philly was at Citizens Bank Park back on August 20, 2009. Ryan Howard and company scored six runs, five earned, on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts in five innings of work.

Today will be Davis’ fifth career start at Citizens Bank … 1-1 in four starts with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.

Phillies Career Numbers against Doug Davis

• Ben Francisco – 1-for-3
• Ryan Howard – 3-for-8 with a double, 2 home runs and a walk
• Roy Oswalt – 3-for-7 with a double and a walk
• Placido Polanco – 3-for-13 with a home run
• Jimmy Rollins – 3-for-24 with a double and 2 walks
• Carlos Ruiz – 2-for-7 with a double and 4 walks
• Chase Utley – 2-for-13 with a walk
• Shane Victorino – 2-for-11 with a double and a triple

The Cubs will see an old foe in a new uniform. The Cubs did not face Roy Oswalt after he was traded to the Phillies last season. The last time they faced Roy O was on June 5 in Houston and they beat Oswalt and the Astros 8-5. The Cubs scored six run on nine hits in seven innings. One of the rare times in recent years the Cubs beat Oswalt.

Oswalt has not been very sharp in his last two outings after putting together a solid month of May (0-1 in three starts with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP).

The Dodgers hung a ‘L’ on Roy O in his last start. Matt Kemp and company scored four runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and struck out only once in six innings. Oswalt is 0-2 in his last two starts with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.

Today will be Oswalt’s 32nd career start against the Cubs. He is 14-13 in 32 games, 31 starts, with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Roy Oswalt

• Starlin Castro – 0-for-3
• Tyler Colvin – 2-for-5 with a double and a home run
• Doug Davis – 0-for-7
• Blake DeWitt – 1-for-5 with a double
• Kosuke Fukudome – 2-for-19
• Koyie Hill – 3-for-7 with a double
• Aramis Ramirez – 18-for-73 with 3 doubles and 5 home runs
• Geovany Soto – 6-for-15 with 2 doubles and a triple

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