Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. White Sox – 07/02/11

Matt Garza (4-6, 4.07/1.33) vs. Phil Humber (7-5, 2.89/0.97)

Updated 12:38pm CDT – Marlon Byrd Activated from 15-Day DL – Luis Montanez Optioned to Triple-A Iowa

The Cubs will shoot to get back in the win column this afternoon behind Matt Garza. Q’s squad let another one slip away on Friday afternoon but could have a chance to get over the three-win hump on the 4th of July with wins the next two days. The White Sox have struggled all season and with a win today will get back to the mediocre mark on the season. It would be great to see the Cubs keep the Southsiders from reaching their goal of reaching, and passing, .500 this weekend.

In other news … With Carlos Zambrano going on the DL for the first time this season, Ryan Dempster is the only starter that began the season in the rotation not to make a trip to the disabled list this year. The Cubs are expected to add Ramon Ortiz to the 40-man roster (currently stands at 39 players) prior to Tuesday’s game and have him take Carlos Zambrano’s start against the Nationals. Ortiz would then start the final game before the break in Pittsburgh a week from Sunday.

Marlon Byrd is expected to be evaluated prior to today’s game and could be activated prior to Sunday’s finale against the Sox.

Today it all starts with Matt Garza … Matt Garza is coming off arguably his best start of the season. Garza made the most of his start against the Rockies in last Monday’s makeup game and picked up a win. Garza really made only two mistakes in his 7 1/3 innings of work. Carlos Gonzalez hit a pair of solo home runs (first and last hit Garza allowed) that accounted for two of the three runs he allowed. The key to Garza’s success was no walks (six strikeouts) against the very good Colorado offense.

Garza was 2-2 in five June starts with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

Matt Garza started and put together five good innings on the South Side back on June 21. The rain shortened Garza’s outing and he received a no decision after not returning after the delay. Garza allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

This afternoon will be Garza’s sixth career start against the Sox. Garza has just one win in five starts … 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP.

White Sox Career Numbers against Matt Garza

• Adam Dunn – 1-for-3 with 2 walks
• Paul Konerko – 5-for-8 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 2 walks
• Brent Lillibridge – 1-for-2 with a walk
• Brent Morel – 1-for-2
• Juan Pierre – 0-for-2
• A.J. Pierzynski – 3-for-7 with a home run and a walk
• Carlos Quentin – 0-for-4
• Alexei Ramirez – 0-for-2
• Alex Rios – 5-for-22 with a double, a triple and 3 walks
• Mark Teahen – 2-for-11 with a walk
• Omar Vizquel – 0-for-3

The Cubs will get their first look at the Mets’ former first round pick (2004, third overall). Phil Humber has really put it together this season on the South Side and is one of the big reasons the Sox are in the AL Central race.

Phil Humber is coming off his first loss in nearly two months. After posting four straight wins and not losing a start since April 30, the Nationals scored two runs on three hits and beat the White Sox 2-1. Livan Hernandez just out pitched Phil Humber.

Phil Humber is 4-1 in nine games, seven starts, on the road with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP this season.

This afternoon will be Phil Humber’s first appearance of his career against the Chicago Cubs and only Luis Montanez (0-for-2) and Carlos Pena (1-for-2 with a home run and a walk) have faced Humber in a big league game.

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