Game Ninety-Five: Cubs (43-51) vs. Rockies (46-51)
- Game Time – 7:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 188/844
- Location – Coors Field, Denver
Carlos Villanueva (2-5, 3.59/1.16) vs. Juan Nicasio (5-4, 4.89/1.39)
The Cubs have won seven of ten and will look to make it two in a row over the Rockies tonight behind Carlos Villanueva.
Junior Lake is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight and should be one of five right handed hitters in the starting lineup. Nate Schierholtz and Luis Valbuena are expected to see their first action since last Sunday but other than Anthony Rizzo, Dale Sveum should fill out his lineup with as many right handers as possible. Lefties have hit .234/.330/.629 against Nicasio while right handers have hit .286/.323/.439 with 15 doubles and six home runs.
Carlos Villanueva makes his third start tonight since returning to the rotation and is not expected to be limited to a certain number of pitches.
Tonight it all begins with Carlos Villanueva …
Carlos Villanueva makes his third start tonight since replacing Scott Feldman in the rotation. After a solid four inning outing against the Pirates in which he allowed one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts, Villanueva settled down after a rough first innings against the Cardinals and allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Villanueva was hung with the loss because the offense could not figure out Joe Kelly.
Carlos Villanueva is 0-1 in his last three games, two starts, with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.
The Rockies punished Villanueva when they faced him in Wrigley back in May. Villanueva allowed seven runs on 12 hits with no walks and one strikeout in five innings. Villanueva was dealing with the news he was going to the bullpen with Matt Garza on his way back from the DL. Villanueva will not have the same distraction tonight.
Carlos Villanueva has never beaten the Rockies. In 12 games, one start, Villanueva is 0-2 with a 10.71 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. At Coors Field, no record in six relief appearances with a 10.80 ERA and a 2.40 WHIP.
Rockies Career Numbers against Carlos Villanueva
- Nolan Arenado – 2-for-3 with a double
- Michael Cuddyer – 3-for-9 with a walk
- Dexter Fowler – 1-for-2 with a double and a walk
- Carlos Gonzalez – 3-for-4 with a double and a home run
- Todd Helton – 2-for-7
- Jonathan Herrera – 1-for-1
- Wilin Rosario – 0-for-3
- Josh Rutledge – 1-for-2
- Troy Tulowitzki – 4-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs and a walk
Juan Nicasio is coming off an excellent outing against the Dodgers after spending some time with Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Red Sox lit up Nicasio in Boston and the Rockies sent him down after allowing seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits with two walks and two strikeouts in just 2 1/3 innings. Colorado recalled him on July 12 and he responded with seven innings of three hit ball at Dodger Stadium.
Prior to his demotion, Nicasio was 0-2 in his five previous starts with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.
Juan Nicasio is 2-1 in seven starts at Coors Field with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP and faces the Cubs for the second time this season tonight.
The Cubs beat Nicasio on May 13 at Wrigley after scoring five runs on eight hits in six innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Nicasio makes his second career start against the Cubs tonight.
Cubs Career Numbers against Juan Nicasio
- Darwin Barney – 0-for-3
- Welington Castillo – 1-for-3 with a double
- Starlin Castro – 1-for-2 with a double
- Dioner Navarro – 1-for-4 with a walk
- Cody Ransom – 0-for-3
- Anthony Rizzo – 0-for-5 with a walk
- Nate Schierholtz – 2-for-6
- Alfonso Soriano – 2-for-3 with a double and a home run
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …