Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 08/26/11

Rodrigo Lopez (4-4, 4.97/1.47) vs. Randy Wolf (10-8, 3.45/1.32)

The Cubs begin a challenging six-game road trip tonight in Milwaukee with the first of three against the Brewers. The Cubs swing out to the left coast for a three-game set in San Francisco starting on Monday night.

The Cubs will have their hands full at Miller Park this weekend. Not only will they have to deal with Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee but the pitching match-ups for the series is less than desirable.

After tonight’s marquee match-up of Rodrigo Lopez and Randy Wolf, Ryan Dempster will face Yovani Gallardo on Saturday and Casey Coleman will oppose Zack Greinke in the finale.

The first place Milwaukee Brewers enter play tonight with a Major League best 47-16 home record and a 10-game lead over the Cardinals in the central.

Alfonso Soriano is expected to be back in Mike Quade’s starting lineup tonight. Soriano was unable to play in Thursday’s finale against the Braves after getting hit in the right forearm on Wednesday night.

With the veteran southpaw on the mound, look for Reed Johnson in right field and Jeff Baker at first base tonight.

In other news … Andrew Cashner is expected to make his second rehab appearance tonight for the Tennessee Smokies. The plan for Cashner is to throw one day, take two off and throw again on the fourth. The Cubs are targeting the first week of September for Cashner to return to the big leagues.

One week ago, the Cubs made the firing of Jim Hendry official … and tonight it all begins with Rodrigo Lopez. Rodrigo Lopez gets another start and the Cubs’ main goal for Lopez should be to get as many innings out of him as they can down the stretch. Lopez has not completed six innings of work in his last three starts … the last time Lopez completed six innings was his gem against the Phillies on July 18 (6 2/3 innings).

Lopez is coming off a bad outing in which he allowed five runs on 10 hits (four home runs) with a walk and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Cubs are 3-1 in his last three outings and Lopez is 2-1 over than span with a 6.20 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.

Tonight will be Lopez’s first start of the season against the Brewers. Lopez has faced the Brewers twice, both in relief, this year and has allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in two innings.

Rodrigo Lopez is 1-1 in six career appearances, four starts, against the Brewers with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP … at Miller Park, 0-1 in two games with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

Brewers Career Numbers against Rodrigo Lopez

• Yuniesky Betancourt – 2-for-13 with a triple
• Ryan Braun – 0-for-4 with 2 walks
• Craig Counsell – 2-for-5
• Prince Fielder – 1-for-5 with 3 walks
• Corey Hart – 4-for-8 with a home run
• Casey McGehee – 4-for-4 with a double and a home run
• Nyjer Morgan – 1-for-4
• Randy Wolf – 0-for-2

The veteran southpaw is having a very good season in Milwaukee. Randy Wolf has fit right into the ‘new look‘ Brewers rotation and has not posted a loss in over a month (July 23). The Brewers have won Wolf’s last five starts and he is 3-0 in his last four with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

Randy Wolf is coming off a rough outing in New York. Wolf surrendered five runs, all earned, on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to the Mets. Prior to his start in New York, Wolf had allowed one earned run in 16 innings (two eight-inning starts).

Wolf is 6-2 in 12 starts at Miller Park this season with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

Tonight will be Wolf’s third start of the season against the Cubs … 0-1 in two starts with a 1.38 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. The Cubs one win came courtesy of four unearned runs. Wolf owns a 5-10 career mark in 21 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Randy Wolf

• Jeff Baker – 8-for-19 with a double and a home run
• Darwin Barney – 0-for-3
• Marlon Byrd – 4-for-10 with a double, 2 home runs and a walk
• Tony Campana – 0-for-3
• Tyler Colvin – 0-for-4
• Blake DeWitt – 0-for-7
• Reed Johnson – 1-for-9
• Rodrigo Lopez – 0-for-2
• Carlos Pena – 0-for-6
• Aramis Ramirez – 5-for-30 with a double, a home run and 2 walks
• Alfonso Soriano – 7-for-29 with 2 home runs and 4 walks
• Geovany Soto – 8-for-25 with a double, 3 home runs and a walk

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