Game Fifty-Seven: Cubs (23-33) vs. Angels (26-24)
- Game Time – 6:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 178/844
- Location – Angel Stadium, Anaheim
Matt Garza (1-0, 3.38/1.13) vs. Jason Vargas (5-3, 3.34/1.35)
The Cubs look to end their three game losing streak this afternoon in the finale with the Angels behind Matt Garza.
The Cubs dropped another game in which they held a lead on Tuesday night, the 19th time this season the Cubs lost a game they led at one point. The Cubs need for Matt Garza to step up and put together a long and effective outing in order to give his team a chance to avoid a very long flight back to Chicago.
It could be very challenging for the hitters early in the game with the shadows at Angel Stadium due to the afternoon start time in Southern California. Couple that with the lefty Jason Vargas on the hill and if the Cubs are not careful it could end up being another frustrating game.
Dave Eanet, Keith Moreland and Judd Sirott will call the action on 720 WGN once again. Pat Hughes will return on Friday. On the TV side, Len Kasper and Todd Hollandsworth will have the play by play on Comcast SportsNet.
This afternoon all begins with Matt Garza …
Matt Garza is coming off his first victory of the season and his first win in over 10 months. Garza put together a very good start against the D-Backs and allowed just two runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. Garza won the only game of the series against Arizona and was not only effective but efficient and completed seven innings for the first time in three starts this season.
Garza has not pitched nearly as good on the road as he has at Wrigley during his time with the Cubs. Garza was 2-6 in 11 road starts a year ago with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP compared to a 3-1 mark in seven home starts with a 2.12 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Back in 2011, Garza was 4-5 in 14 road starts with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP while posting a 6-5 record in 17 games at Wrigley with a 2.46 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Garza is following those trends this season and faces a tough test tonight.
Matt Garza is 0-1 in four career starts against the Angels with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP … at Angel Stadium, no record in two starts with a 6.55 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP.
Angels Career Numbers against Matt Garza
- Erick Aybar – 3-for-9 with a triple
- Alberto Callaspo – 4-for-6 with a home run
- Josh Hamilton – 2-for-15 with two walks
- Brendan Harris – 1-for-3 with a home run
- Chris Iannetta – 1-for-8 with a triple
- Howie Kendrick – 2-for-3 with a double
- Albert Pujols – 2-for-9 with a double and two walks
- J.B. Shuck – 0-for-1
After a rough start to the season (0-3 in five starts with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP), Jason Vargas has righted his ship and was recently named AL Pitcher of the Month for May. Vargas was a perfect 5-0 in six starts last month with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Vargas has been very, very good in his new home park this season as well. Vargas is 4-1 in six home starts with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP and just 1-2 in five road starts with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.
The veteran southpaw has not lost a game since April 28 and is coming off a solid outing against the Dodgers. Vargas held the other LA team to two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.
Jason Vargas has not lost to the Cubs in four career starts. Vargas is 2-0 against the Cubs lifetime with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Vargas last faced the Cubs on June 22, 2010 in Seattle. Vargas tossed a shutout and beat Ryan Dempster 2-0 with David Aardsma picking up the save.
Cubs Career Numbers against Jason Vargas
- Julio Borbon – 2-for-10 with a walk
- Starlin Castro – 0-for-2
- David DeJesus – 0-for-9 with a walk
- Scott Hairston – 1-for-3 with a walk
- Dioner Navarro – 2-for-6 with a walk
- Anthony Rizzo – 0-for-3
- Alfonso Soriano – 3-for-7 with a double and a walk
- Ryan Sweeney – 1-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …