Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Mets – 06/26/12

Randy Wells (1-2, 4.91/1.91) vs. Dillon Gee (5-5, 4.27/1.24)

Can Dale Sveum’s team win two in a row over the Mets? After a horrible trip to Phoenix, the Cubs bounced back nicely Monday night behind Travis Wood. The Cubs showed patience, hustle and took advantage of the Mets’ miscues. The Cubs will have to play a similar game tonight with Dillon Gee on the hill.

Anthony Rizzo will make his Cubs’ debut tonight and is expected to hit in the middle of the order. Dale Sveum said he envisions Rizzo hitting third or fourth. Alfonso Soriano told the media he would like to have Rizzo hit behind him. The batting position will work itself out but the main thing is that Rizzo will play every day, even against left-handers.

To make room on the active roster for Rizzo, Adrian Cardenas was optioned down to Triple-A Iowa following Monday’s game.

In other news … Ryan Dempster threw off flat ground Monday but is not expected to be activated from the DL on time. Dempster is eligible to be activated Sunday but he will likely miss at least two more starts. Some reports have Dempster coming back right around the All-Star break (July 9 – July 12).

Ian Stewart took batting practice Monday and is making progress but there is no timetable for his return.

Tonight it all starts with Randy Wells … Randy Wells is coming off another bad outing. Wells took full responsibility (again) for his 3 2/3 inning start against the White Sox. When Wells made those same statements two years ago there was a feeling of sincerity but not any longer. Wells appeared to be on his way back to the pen but the Cubs have given him another chance … and it is up to him to finally take advantage.

The Sox showed a lot of patience against Randy Wells and Wells responded by walking four batters in his short outing. Wells allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and no strikeouts in his first start since April 28.

As a starting pitcher this year, Wells is 0-2 in three starts with a 6.57 ERA and a 2.19 WHIP. Randy Wells is 1-0 in five games, one start, at Wrigley this year with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP (six walks, 12 hits and four strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings).

Randy Wells has never beaten the Mets in four tries. Wells is 0-1 in four starts with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.

Mets Career Numbers against Randy Wells

• Ronny Cedeno – 4-for-15 with a home run
• Ike Davis – 2-for-5 with a walk
• Lucas Duda – 3-for-6 with two double and a walk
• Scott Hairston – 1-for-4
• Daniel Murphy – 2-for-3 with a home run
• Mike Nickeas – 1-for-3
• Ruben Tejada – 1-for-6
• Josh Thole – 0-for-2 with a walk
• Andres Torres – 1-for-3 with a double and a walk
• David Wright – 4-for-12 with a double

Dillon Gee ended a four-game winless streak in his last start. Gee held the Orioles to two runs on three hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Gee has pitched better than his record and ERA indicate. Gee has allowed more than three earned runs in only two of his last 10 starts.

Gee had a rough start to the season (2-2 in first four starts with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP) and after a decent May (2-1 in six starts with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP), he is 1-2 in his last four outings with a 3.29 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP … eight walks and 26 strikeouts in last 27 1/3 innings.

Dillon Gee has pitched better on the road (3-1 in five starts with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP) than at home (2-4 in nine starts with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP).

Tonight will be Dillon Gee’s second start against the Cubs. Gee beat the Cubs last May 25 in a rain-shorted six inning game at Wrigley. Gee was credited with a complete game and the win after allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Cubs Career Numbers against Dillon Gee

• Darwin Barney – 0-for-3
• Starlin Castro – 1-for-3
• Reed Johnson – 1-for-2 with a double
• Joe Mather – 1-for-3 with a walk
• James Russell – 0-for-2
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-3 with a double

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …

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