Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Cardinals – 07/22/12

Travis Wood (4-4, 3.92/1.20) vs. Lance Lynn (11-4, 3.27/1.21)

Updated 11:52am CDT, 12:47pm CDT – Jeff Beliveau Recalled from Triple-A Iowa – Rafael Dolis Optioned to Triple-A Iowa

While the team is on the field for the finale of the three-game series in St. Louis, all eyes will be on Cooperstown this afternoon as Ron Santo is enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony begins at 12:30pm CDT, coverage on the MLB Network begins at 11:30am CDT.

Ron Santo should have been elected years ago and it is a bittersweet day for the Santo family. Santo put up the numbers and was one of the best third basemen to ever play the game.

As for the game, the Cubs have really struggled in St. Louis of late. With Saturday’s loss, the Cubs are 4-12 in the last 16 games at Busch Stadium and have been outscored 16-1 in the first two games of this series. Dale Sveum’s team is still 14-7 over their last 21 games but have already lost this series, the first series loss (5-1-1) since being swept in Arizona in late-June (June 22-June 24).

This afternoon all starts with Travis Wood … There is only one way to say it … Travis Wood was horrible in his last outing. Wood struggled with his location and command of his breaking pitches, when he threw them and the Marlins hammered him over 4 2/3 innings. Wood gave up a season-worst eight runs on eight hits (two home runs) with two walks and two strikeouts.

After an excellent stretch (four straight wins), Wood is 2-1 in his last three outings with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Cubs are 6-5 in his 11 starts this season.

Travis Wood has been better on the road this season (2-2 in five starts with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP) than at Wrigley (2-2 in six starts with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP) and will face the Cardinals for the first time this year.

Today will be Travis Wood’s fourth career starts against the Cardinals. Wood is 2-0 in the first three with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP … at Busch Stadium, 1-0 in two starts with a 2.03 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

Cardinals Career Numbers against Travis Wood

• Lance Berkman – 5-for-8 with a double, a home run and a walk
• David Freese – 2-for-3
• Tyler Greene – 1-for-3 with a double
• Matt Holliday – 2-for-9
• Jon Jay – 2-for-3 with two walks
• Yadier Molina – 3-for-9 with a double and a home run

Lance Lynn has dominated the Cubs this season. Entering play today, Lynn has recorded 11 wins on the season … and two have come at the Cubs expense. The Cardinals are discussing ways on how to limit Lynn’s innings this season in his first full year as a starter at the big league level.

After a rough June (2-3 in six starts with a 5.67 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP), Lynn has gotten back on track. In his last two starts, Lynn is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 0.92 WHIP (10 hits, two walks and 17 strikeouts in 13 innings). Lynn took a no decision in his last outing against the Brewers. Lynn allowed one run on six hits in seven innings without a walk and 10 strikeouts.

Lance Lynn is 5-2 in seven starts at home this year with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

This afternoon will be Lynn’s third start of the season against the Cubs. Lynn is 2-0 in three career appearances, two starts, against the Cubs with a 1.17 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP … this year, 2-0 in two starts with a 1.35 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP (10 hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings).

Cubs Career Numbers against Lance Lynn

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-1
• Darwin Barney – 1-for-6 with a double
• Tony Campana – 0-for-4
• Starlin Castro – 2-for-7
• Steve Clevenger – 1-for-3 with a double
• David DeJesus – 1-for-5 with two walks
• Bryan LaHair – 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk
• Alfonso Soriano – 3-for-7
• Geovany Soto – 0-for-3

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