Game Sixteen: Cubs (5-10) vs. Brewers (7-8)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 187/844
- Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Edwin Jackson (0-2, 6.06/1.59) vs. Hiram Burgos (0-0, -.–/-.–)
The good news over the first 15 games of the season is that the Cubs have been in every game, the bad news is one or two plays in each of the 10 losses have cost them the game. The Cubs are 2-4 in games decided by one run and five of their other six losses have been decided by three runs or less.
The Cubs have really struggled against the Brewers over the last two-plus seasons. After going 6-10 versus Milwaukee in 2011, Dale Sveum’s Cubs were a miserable 4-13 against the Brewers last year … just five wins over their last 15 games with the Brewers.
The Cubs must figure out a way to keep from digging themselves an early hole tonight. In two of the first three games, Cubs’ pitching has allowed four runs in the first inning to the Brewers. While the Brewers have a questionable, at best, pitching staff, the Cubs are not built to comeback from four-run deficits.
Dale Sveum and the Cubs need a good outing from Edwin Jackson tonight.
Edwin Jackson has not had a good start to his Cubs’ career. The one bad inning syndrome has followed Jackson to Chicago, at least over his first three starts. Jackson has struggled for one inning in each of his outings this year and it has cost his team.
The offense gave Edwin Jackson a 4-1 cushion in his last outing before the wild pitch party commenced and the Cubs’ lead evaporated. Jackson received a no decision in his outing against the Giants after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits, four walks, two wild pitches and nine strikeouts. Jackson has very good stuff, and it is the lack of consistency that has hurt him this season.
Jackson gets his second crack at the Brewers. Milwaukee pounded Jackson in the opener at Wrigley and put four runs on the board in the first inning, and five runs in the first two frames, before Jackson changed the grip on his fastball and started throwing quality strikes. Jackson has had success against the Brewers in his career (3-3 in eight starts with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP) … and it’s time for him to step up tonight and at least deliver a quality start.
Edwin Jackson makes his fourth career start at Miller Park tonight. Jackson is 2-1 in three career starts in Milwaukee with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
Brewers Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
- Norichika Aoki – 3-for-10 with a double and a walk
- Yuniesky Betancourt – 4-for-26 with a double and two walks
- Ryan Braun – 7-for-22 with five doubles and two walk
- Carlos Gomez – 1-for-10 with a double
- Alex Gonzalez – 3-for-7 with a double, a triple and two walks
- Jonathan Lucroy – 5-for-14 with a home run and a walk
- Martin Maldonado – 3-for-4 with a double
- Jean Segura – 1-for-3
- Rickie Weeks – 3-for-12 with a double, a home run and a walk
The Cubs will get their first look at the Brewers’ reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Hiram Burgos. The Brewers selected the 25-year old right hander in the sixth round of the 2009 draft. Burgos was 10-4 in 28 games, 27 starts, with a 1.95 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over three levels of the Brewers’ system a year ago. Burgos made three starts for Triple-A Nashville this year and was 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.
Hiram Burgos is the type of pitcher that has given the Cubs a lot of problems in recent years. Burgos throws a fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s (88-91 mph), a cutter, a changeup, curveball and slider and can throw all of his pitches for strikes in any count.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …