Game Twelve: Cubs (3-8) vs. Marlins (5-6)
Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187/905
Location – Marlins Park, Miami
Matt Garza (1-0, 1.23/0.75) vs. Mark Buehrle (0-2, 3.65/1.38)
Dale Sveum will turn to Matt Garza tonight to put an end to the team’s three-game losing streak. The Cubs dropped another game Tuesday night in which they had a lead in but could not tack on and put away. With the limited offense, the Cubs simply do not have any room for error right now and have to play mistake-free ball in order to win games.
Geovany Soto is expected back in the lineup and with Mark Buehrle on the hill look for Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson in the staring nine as well. Will Joe Mather get a start? Will Dale Sveum stick with Marlon Byrd?
As for the bullpen, if the Cubs have a lead late in the game, which relievers will Dale Sveum use to get to Carlos Marmol? Rafael Dolis figures to be unavailable after a long outing Tuesday, so that would leave Shawn Camp, Lendy Castillo, Rodrigo Lopez and James Russell as the bridge to Marmol.
Tonight all begins with Matt Garza … Matt Garza is coming off a tremendous start against the Brewers and within his own throwing error of tossing his first complete game shutout in a Cubs’ uniform. Garza dominated a Brewers’ lineup for 8 2/3 innings that was only missing Aramis Ramirez. Garza allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out nine. Garza also ran up his pitch count so look for him to be on a reduced pitch count tonight.
Garza makes his first start outside of Wrigley tonight. Garza, like Dempster, struggled on the road compared to the way he pitched at home a year ago. Garza posted a 4-5 record in 14 road starts with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.
Matt Garza owns a 3-1 record in five career starts against the Marlins with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP … last season, Garza started one game and received a no decision after tossing seven innings of shutout ball (six hits, three walks and six strikeouts).
Marlins Career Numbers against Matt Garza
- Emilio Bonifacio – 2-for-4
- John Buck – 3-for-12 with two doubles and a walk
- Greg Dobbs – 1-for-3
- Omar Infante – 3-for-5 with a triple and a walk
- Austin Kearns – 1-for-5
- Logan Morrison – 0-for-2 with a walk
- Hanley Ramirez – 3-for-14 with a triple, a home run and a walk
- Jose Reyes – 1-for-4
- Gaby Sanchez – 2-for-7 with a walk
- Giancarlo (Mike) Stanton – 2-for-6 with a home run and a walk
Mark Buehrle always stepped up his game in Interleague play when the White Sox faced the Cubs and it should be more of the same tonight. Buehrle has dominated the Cubs over the last few seasons and if the free-swinging Cubs’ lineup is not patient tonight, the veteran southpaw will once again have a field day.
Buehrle could easily be 2-0 instead of 0-2 if he received any run support. Both games he’s lost has been by a 4-0 and 3-1 final. The Phillies managed three runs on eight hits (two home runs) against Buehrle in his last time out. Tonight is the vets first start at his new home ballpark.
Mark Buehrle is 5-4 in 13 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Mark Buehrle
- Jeff Baker – 2-for-6
- Marlon Byrd – 4-for-15
- Starlin Castro – 1-for-6
- David DeJesus – 14-for-78 with two doubles, a home run and three walks
- Reed Johnson – 11-for-30 with three doubles
- Alfonso Soriano – 7-for-37 with a double, two home runs and a walk
- Geovany Soto – 2-for-10 with a double and a walk
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