Game Ninety-Three: Cubs (42-50) vs. Cardinals (53-36)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 89/844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Travis Wood (6-6, 2.69/0.97) vs. Adam Wainwright (12-5, 2.30/0.99)
It’s the Cubs versus the Cardinals in the game of the world on Sunday Night Baseball in the final game before the All-Star break begins. The Cubs have a shot of taking three of four from the best team in baseball going into the break. But in order to accomplish the feat, the Cubs’ All-Star representative will have to outpitch one of the Redbirds’ All-Stars.
Travis Wood has put together a very good first half of the season. Wood has recorded 17 quality starts in 18 tries and will face a big challenge with the high-powered St. Louis Cardinals.
Cole Gillespie is expected to be activated prior to the game which would give Dale Sveum another bat off the bench with Nate Schierholtz likely unavailable for the second day in a row. Schierholtz has been dealing with nagging injuries for a couple of weeks and the Cubs would like to give him a long, six-day break. With Schierholtz likely unavailable, the Cubs will play with a short bench even if Gillespie is available.
The last game before the break all begins with the All-Star Travis Wood …
Travis Wood is coming off another excellent outing and his first win in six starts. Wood held the very powerful Angels lineup to two runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts on a night the wind was howling out at Wrigley. Wood ran out of gas with two outs in the seventh. But he still completed his longest start since June 17 in St. Louis. For those questioning his performance against the Angels, just ask Jeff Samardzija his thoughts.
Travis Wood is 1-0 in his last two starts with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. Wood has allowed seven hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in his last 12 2/3 innings.
Tonight will be the 12th time this season that Travis Wood has started a game in his home park. Wood is 4-4 in 11 starts at Wrigley with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The key for Wood tonight will be to keep the ball down and in the park.
Travis Wood faces the Cardinals for the third time this season. Wood is 1-1 in the first two outings with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Wood lost his last start against the Cardinals after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. Wood has allowed five runs, four earned, on 13 hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings to the Redbirds.
Cardinals Numbers against Travis Wood for 2013
- Carlos Beltran – 2-for-6 with a double
- Matt Carpenter – 1-for-8
- Allen Craig – 1-for-6 with a home run
- David Freese – 1-for-6
- Matt Holliday – 1-for-5 with a walk
- Jon Jay – 2-for-5
- Pete Kozma – 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
- Yadier Molina – 3-for-6 with a double
Adam Wainwright has been, well, Adam Wainwright over his last four starts. The last time Wainwright did not pitch well was when the Cubs beat him in St. Louis back on June 18. Wainwright is coming off a dominating performance against the Astros. Wainwright gave up one run on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in seven innings.
The Cardinals’ ace is 1-0 in his last two starts with a 3.00 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP after posting a 4-2 record in six starts in June with a 1.77 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.
Adam Wainwright makes his second start of the season against the Cubs. Wainwright lost the game on June 18 after allowing four runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts in seven innings. For his career, Wainwright is 6-6 in 28 games, 19 starts, against the Cubs with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Adam Wainwright is a perfect 5-0 in 14 games, nine starts, at Wrigley with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
The Cubs really made Wainwright work the last time they faced him and should stick to that game plan once again.
Cubs Career Numbers against Adam Wainwright
- Darwin Barney – 6-for-18 with a double
- Brian Bogusevic – 1-for-5
- Welington Castillo – 0-for-5
- Starlin Castro – 5-for-17 with a double and two walks
- Cole Gillespie – 2-for-3
- Dioner Navarro – 1-for-3
- Cody Ransom – 3-for-6 with a home run
- Anthony Rizzo – 3-for-6
- Dave Sappelt – 1-for-2 with a walk
- Nate Schierholtz – 2-for-11 with two doubles
- Alfonso Soriano – 11-for-42 with six doubles, one triple and five walks
- Luis Valbuena – 1-for-5 with a double and a walk
- Travis Wood – 2-for-3 with a home run
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …