Spring Training Game Thirty-Five: Cubs (16-17) vs. Royals (ss) (23-6-2)
- Game Time – 8:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: MLB.TV/MLB Network (delay) None – Radio: 720 WGN
- Location – Surprise Stadium, Surprise
Scott Feldman (0-3, 10.34/1.98) vs. James Shields (2-1, 7.90/1.68)
Countdown to Opening Day in Pittsburgh: 5 Days
After posting four straight wins in the Cactus League, the Cubs have dropped two in a row in ugly fashion. Dale Sveum’s team will shoot to get back on track tonight in Surprise against a split squad of the recently crowned Cactus League Champions.
The Royals have been the talk of the Cactus League this spring. The Royals have a very talented, young team primed to make a run in the AL Central, but this is just Spring Training and the real test for Kansas City begins on Monday. The other half of the Royals roster faces the Brewers in Maryvale on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cubs were one of the few teams to beat Kansas City this spring. A Cubs split squad team led by Alfonso Soriano and Javier Baez bashed the Royals back on March 16 at HoHoKam Park.
David DeJesus, Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Darwin Barney are expected in the starting lineup. Tonight is the Cubs’ final road game in the Cactus League this spring.
Pat Hughes and Keith Moreland will call tonight’s action on 720 WGN … and the game can be seen on MLB.TV.
Tonight all begins with Scott Feldman …
The Cubs need to see a good outing out of Scott Feldman tonight. The veteran right-hander has been lit up in his last two starts. Feldman has struggled with location and putting batters away once he is ahead in the count. While Feldman says he is okay, tonight would be a good time to see him put together a solid outing from start to finish.
Feldman gave up four runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts over five innings to the Dodgers with three of the runs coming on a long home run. So far this spring, Feldman has allowed 18 runs on 26 hits with five walks and 13 strikeouts in five Cactus League starts (15 2/3 innings).
James Shields makes his final start of the spring tonight. Shields will take the ball on Opening Day for the Royals. Shields has had a rough spring, his first in Arizona. Shields has allowed 13 runs, 12 earned, on 20 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts over five appearances, four starts (13 2/3 innings).
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …