Spring Training Game Seven: Cubs (4-2) vs. Diamondbacks (3-3)
- Game Time – 2:05pm CST
- Coverage – TV: None – Radio: Cubs.com
- Location – HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 4.50/1.50) vs. Trevor Cahill (0-0, -.–/-.–)
Spring Training games usually begin around March 1, but due to the World Baseball Classic, the Cubs will play their seventh spring game on the first day of March. The Cubs have one full month, and 32 games remaining on the exhibition schedule before Opening Day in Pittsburgh.
The Cubs square off against the Diamondbacks for the first time this spring today, and will face each other one more time this month, March 11, at Salt River Fields.
The Cubs play four games over the next three days. Dale Sveum’s team travels to Scottsdale to take on the Giants on Saturday then it’s the first of five split squad days on Sunday … half of the roster will travel to Tempe to take on the Angels while the other half will stay in Mesa to host the Brewers.
Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie will call the action once again on Cubs.com
This afternoon it all begins with Jeff Samardzija …
Jeff Samardzija makes his second start of the spring today. Samardzija faced the Giants last Sunday in the home opener against the Giants and allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks in two innings. Samardzija said afterwards he was not happy with his sider, which accounted for two of the three hits he allowed.
Starters usually increase their innings by one per start in the Cactus League, but with spring being extended by a week this year, the Cubs could wait until Samardzija’s next start before they let him go three frames.
Trevor Cahill makes his spring debut this afternoon. Cahill is coming off a solid first year with the Diamondbacks after being traded from the A’s last off-season. Cahill posted a 13-12 record in 32 starts with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP … and was 1-1 in two starts against the Cubs with a 3.14 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.
Patrick Corbin is expected to piggyback Trevor Cahill this afternoon.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …