Game Forty-Six: Cubs (18-27) vs. Pirates (28-18)
- Game Time – 11:35am CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 183/844
- Location – PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Edwin Jackson (1-6, 5.76/1.52) vs. Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.78/1.21)
Weather permitting … The Cubs will try to salvage the third and final game in Pittsburgh behind Edwin Jackson. The Cubs are 2-3 in the first five games of the season against the Mighty Pirates and have been outscored 12-10. The Cubs have lost three straight one run games and each of their last four losses has been by one run.
The Cubs need for Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo to break out of their recent funks. Castro has just 10 hits in his last 42 at bats but only one single in his last four games (1-for-18). As for Anthony Rizzo, after going 39 at bats without striking out, Rizzo has struck out eight times in his last 13 at bats. The offense should get a little boost with David DeJesus, Nate Schierholtz and Luis Valbuena back with the right-hander on the hill for Pittsburgh. Dioner Navarro should also get a start with an early start time following a night game.
The Cubs must win today in order to avoid dropping to a season-low 10 games under .500 and it all starts with Edwin Jackson.
Edwin Jackson has pitched much better of late. Jackson is coming off his first true quality start of the season (three officially for the year), despite the fact the third run he allowed came on a single by Matt Harvey. Jackson allowed three runs on seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Jackson made three mistakes, two left the park and the other one was to Harvey that ended up being the game winner.
After a miserable start to his Cubs’ career (0-4 in first six starts with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP), Jackson is 1-2 in his last three games with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Jackson’s struggles at Wrigley Field have been well documented but he has pitched a lot better on the road. Jackson is 0-4 in five starts at Wrigley with a 7.81 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP and is 1-2 in four road starts with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.
Edwin Jackson lost to Wandy Rodriguez in the second game of the season back on April 3. Jackson lasted five innings and allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts. For his career, Jackson is 4-1 against the Pirates in seven starts with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP … at PNC, 1-1 in four starts with a 3.20 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.
Pirates Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
- Pedro Alvarez – 1-for-8
- Clint Barmes – 3-for-13
- Brandon Inge – 6-for-23 with three walks
- Garrett Jones – 3-for-12 with a home run and a walk
- Starling Marte – 0-for-3
- Russell Martin – 2-for-12 with a walk
- Andrew McCutchen – 4-for-13 with a double, two home runs and two walks
- Michael McKenry – 3-for-5 with two double
- Gaby Sanchez – 0-for-5 with a walk
- Travis Snider – 0-for-5
- Jose Tabata – 0-for-6
- Neil Walker – 2-for-9 with a double and two walks
The Cubs will get their first look at Jeanmar Gomez in a regular season game today. The former Cleveland Indian is off to a good start in his first go around with the Pirates. Gomez makes his fifth start of the season today and tenth appearance.
Gomez is coming off a short, but effective outing against the Astros. Gomez allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with a pair of walks and one strikeout in 4 2/3 innings. Gomez kept his team in a game the Pirates won 5-4. The stat that stands out the most when looking at Gomez’s year to this point, the Pirates are 7-2 in the nine games he’s pitched in this season.
Jeanmar Gomez is 1-0 in his last four starts with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP … at PNC this season, 1-0 in five games, two starts, with a 1.88 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
Jeanmar Gomez makes his first start against the Cubs this afternoon. David DeJesus (0-for-4 with two walks) and Ryan Sweeney (2-for-3) are the only two Cubs on the active roster that have faced Gomez in a game that counts.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …