Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Reds – 04/22/12

Randy Wells (0-0, -.–/-.–) vs. Johnny Cueto (1-0, 1.89/1.11)

The Cubs have a chance to win a series and their second game in a row but instead of Ryan Dempster taking the hill in the series finale it will be Randy Wells.

Ryan Dempster was scheduled to make his four start of the season but Dempster was placed on the DL prior to Saturday’s game with a right quad strain. Dempster reportedly hurt his quad during his last start in Miami. The Cubs recalled Tony Campana from Triple-A Iowa to take Dempster’s spot on the active roster and Randy Wells was officially recalled from Triple-A after Marlon Byrd was traded to the Red Sox.

Geovany Soto is expected back in the starting lineup this afternoon and Alfonso Soriano should be back in left field. Soriano has very good numbers against Johnny Cueto … maybe he can notch his first extra basehit of the season today.

Tony Campana, Reed Johnson and Joe Mather will reportedly fill the Cubs’ opening in centerfield while Brett Jackson continues to work at the Triple-A level. Even with Marlon Byrd now on Boston’s roster, the Cubs are expected to stick to their development plan for Brett Jackson.

According to Bruce Miles, Michael Bowden is expected to join the Cubs’ pen on Monday. Bowden would take Marlon Byrd’s spot on the 40-man roster but Jed Hoyer would have to create a spot on the active roster for Bowden.

Today it all starts with Randy Wells … Randy Wells said he was surprised when the Cubs sent him down to Triple-A at the end of Spring Training. Wells has not done anything to help himself in his first three starts but once again due to an injury by one of the Cubs’ veteran starters, Randy Wells gets a chance to perform at the big league level.

Randy Wells was 1-0 in three starts with the I-Cubs this season with a 9.42 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. In 14 1/3 innings, Wells has allowed 15 runs, all earned, on 16 hits with six walks and 10 strikeouts … teams have hit .286 and three home runs.

Wells was fine in his first start against Round Rock but struggled in his second start then imploded in Texas when he faced Round Rock in their home park (eight runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings).

After spending the first two months of the 2011 season on the DL, Randy Wells ended up with a 7-6 record in 23 starts with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.

Today will be Randy Wells’ tenth career start against the Reds. Wells is 4-1 in the first nine with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP … last season, two no decisions with a 8.74 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP.

Reds Career Numbers against Randy Wells

• Jay Bruce – 3-for-12 with a double and a walk
• Miguel Cairo – 0-for-1
• Todd Frazier – 1-for-5 with a home run
• Ryan Hanigan – 7-for-16 with a walk
• Willie Harris – 1-for-3 with three walks
• Chris Heisey – 2-for-5 with a home run and a walk
• Ryan Ludwick – 4-for-11 with two doubles, two home runs and two walks
• Brandon Phillips – 7-for-20 with a double, a home run and two walks
• Scott Rolen – 3-for-10 with two doubles and two walks
• Drew Stubbs – 7-for-15 with a double and two home runs
• Wilson Valdez – 1-for-3
• Joey Votto – 5-for-22 with a home run and two walks

Johnny Cueto has pitched good enough to 3-0 this season instead of having only one win to show for some dominant pitching. Cueto tossed seven innings of shutout ball against the Marlins in his first start of the season and is coming off another solid seven inning start. Cueto held the high-powered Cardinals’ offense to one run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts but the Reds lost 2-1.

Today will be Johnny Cueto’s 15th career start against the Cubs. In the first 14, Cueto posted a 4-6 record with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Last season Cueto was 1-1 in four starts against the Cubs with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. For his career, Cueto is 2-4 in nine starts at Wrigley with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Johnny Cueto

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-3
• Darwin Barney – 1-for-4
• Starlin Castro – 3-for-15 with three walks
• David DeJesus – 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
• Blake DeWitt – 3-for-11
• Reed Johnson – 5-for-14 with two doubles
• Bryan LaHair – 1-for-3
• Alfonso Soriano – 10-for-32 with a double, three home runs and two walk
• Geovany Soto – 7-for-27 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and two walks
• Ian Stewart – 0-for-2
• Randy Wells – 0-for-2

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …

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