Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Rockies – 06/27/11

Matt Garza (3-6, 4.11/1.40) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.71/1.08)

Weather permitting … The Cubs begin an eight-game homestand this afternoon with a makeup game against the Colorado Rockies. Today’s game was originally scheduled for April 27 but was cancelled due to weather … well it never rained and the Rockies were not happy about the cancellation.

Colorado had already won the first two games of the series and was going for the sweep on that Wednesday afternoon in late April. The original pitching match-up was Casey Coleman for the 10-13 Chicago Cubs and Jhoulys Chacin for the 16-7, first place Colorado Rockies. A lot has changed for Colorado since while the Cubs have kept finding ways to lose games. The Rockies have already won the season series against the Cubs (4-1) and are looking to rebound from losing two of three in the Bronx over the weekend.

Today is a rematch of the game back on April 15 in Denver. Jhoulys Chacin posted the first complete game shutout of his career in a 5-0 victory over Matt Garza.

The Cubs begin a very difficult homestand with eight games in seven days. After today’s makeup, the Giants return to Chicago and the Cubs will play a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday prior to the regularly scheduled games on Wednesday and Thursday … with both Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain scheduled. The homestand ends with three against the Sox and if Q’s squad does not step it up they will be 20 games under .500 before the 4th of July.

As Marlon Byrd is set to begin his rehab assignment with the I-Cubs, today it all starts with Matt Garza … Matt Garza is coming off a rain-shortened start against the White Sox in which he threw the ball extremely well. Garza allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts in five innings. Garza really made only one mistake … he served up a homer to Paul Konerko.

Mike Quade is in need of a long outing from Matt Garza today. The Cubs have five games over the next four days and not another day off until the break. The Cubs’ pen is short (and shot) plus it is time for the top three pitchers in the rotation to step it up several notches.

Garza is 1-2 in his last four starts with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP … and at Wrigley this season, 2-2 in six starts with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

Due to the dry-out back on April 27, Garza will make his third start of the season against the Rockies … 0-2 in two starts with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP (10 runs, six earned, on 10 hits in 12 innings with three walks and 12 strikeouts).

Rockies Career Numbers against Matt Garza

• Jhoulys Chacin – 1-for-3
• Jason Giambi – 1-for-9 with 4 walks
• Carlos Gonzalez – 1-for-8 with a home run
• Todd Helton – 4-for-8 with a home run and a walk
• Jonathan Herrera – 1-for-4 with a walk
• Chris Iannetta – 1-for-5 with a triple
• Seth Smith – 1-for-8 with a walk
• Troy Tulowitzki – 1-for-8
• Ty Wigginton – 4-for-16 with a double and a home run

Jhoulys Chacin is in the middle of an excellent run and has not lost a game since May 29 against the Cardinals. Chacin received a no decision in his last start in Cleveland after allowing one run on two hits with six walks and seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. The Rockies ended up winning the game and are 4-0 in Chacin’s last four starts (3-0 with a 1.01 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP) … dating back to May 4 Colorado is 7-3 in the 10 games started by Jhoulys Chacin.

For as good as Chacin has been this season he’s struggled a little on the road (4-1 in six starts with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP) … the Cubs would take those numbers in a heartbeat.

Chacin is 1-1 in three career games, two starts, against the Cubs with a 2.16 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP … at Wrigley, 0-1 in one start with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Jhoulys Chacin

• Starlin Castro – 0-for-7
• Blake DeWitt – 0-for-7
• Kosuke Fukudome – 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk
• Matt Garza – 0-for-2
• Reed Johnson – 2-for-6 with a double
• Carlos Pena – 1-for-3 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-6 with a double and a walk
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-5
• Geovany Soto – 1-for-5 with 2 walks

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