Game Twenty-Eight: Cubs (11-16) vs. Padres (10-17)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 183/844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Travis Wood (2-1, 2.25/0.97) vs. Eric Stults (2-2, 5.67/1.33)
The Cubs and Padres wrap up their four-game series this afternoon. The Cubs have taken two of the first three and a victory this afternoon would give the Cubs back-to-back series wins.
Dale Sveum is expected to run out his right-handed lineup this afternoon. Both Alfonso Soriano and Welington Castillo are expected to be part of the starting eight with Dave Sappelt in center and Scott Hairston in right. After dropping their first four games started by southpaws this season, the Cubs have won three straight in games started by lefties.
Sveum said Wednesday he is likely to use different looking lineups, like the one on Wednesday night, until the off-day next Thursday. Sveum would like to get players a breather and will shift his lineup accordingly.
With Scott Feldman going the distance on Wednesday night, the Cubs bullpen received a much needed break. Sveum should have a full bullpen at his disposal this afternoon.
This afternoon all starts with Travis Wood …
Travis Wood has made five starts and in all five starts Wood has completed at least six innings while allowing three runs or less … that is five quality starts for those scoring at home. Wood is coming off his second victory of the season. Wood held the Marlins to two runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts in six innings. Wood was not as sharp against the Fish as he’d been in his previous four starts but he was still good enough to post his first win against Miami.
Wood has shown a lot of improvement this season under the tutelage of Chris Bosio. In 32 innings, Wood has allowed 20 hits, three home runs, 11 walks and 23 strikeouts.
Travis Wood is 0-1 in two starts at Wrigley this season with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP and will make his fifth career start against the Padres this afternoon. Wood has never beaten San Diego … 0-1 in five games, four starts, with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The Friars had their way with Wood a year ago. Wood faced San Diego twice and was 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.
The Cubs are 3-2 in Travis Wood’s five starts.
Padres Career Numbers against Travis Wood
- Yonder Alonso – 1-for-6
- Kyle Blanks – 1-for-1
- Everth Cabrera – 2-for-6 with a home run
- Chris Denorfia – 3-for-8 with a double and two walks
- Chase Headley – 6-for-12 with two home runs
- Nick Hundley – 2-for-6 with a double
- Carlos Quentin – 2-for-4 with two doubles and two walks
- Eric Stults – 0-for-1
- Will Venable – 2-for-7 with two home runs
Eric Stults was very good over 18 games for San Diego a year ago. Stults posted an 8-3 record in 14 starts with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Stults has struggled a little out of the gate this year. Stults has allowed five earned runs in each of his last two starts while not allowing less than three earned runs in his last four games. Stults is coming off a no decision against the Giants in which he allowed five runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts in four innings.
Stults throws strikes and the Cubs will have to make the own opportunities this afternoon. In 27 innings, Stults has walked only four batters while striking out 21 and giving up 32 hits.
The veteran southpaw is 1-3 in four career starts against the Cubs with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP … at Wrigley Field, Eric Stults is 0-3 in three starts with a 7.24 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Eric Stults
- Darwin Barney – 3-for-6 with three doubles
- Welington Castillo – 2-for-2
- Starlin Castro – 1-for-5 with a walk
- David DeJesus – 0-for-3
- Scott Hairston – 0-for-2
- Cody Ransom – 0-for-2
- Anthony Rizzo – 0-for-3
- Nate Schierholtz – 3-for-6 with two doubles
- Alfonso Soriano – 3-for-10 with a home run and a walk
- Travis Wood – 1-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …