Game One Hundred Thirty-Three: Cubs (56-76) vs. Dodgers (77-54)
- Game Time – 2:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 183/844
- Location – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Edwin Jackson (7-13, 5.00/1.43/3.60) vs. Ricky Nolasco (5-1, 2.53/1.14/3.71)
The Cubs wrap-up their six-game road trip with the series and season series finale against the Dodgers this afternoon. The Cubs are 2-3 over the first five games of their last trip of the year out West and a win today would give them a .500 trip after giving away two games in San Diego.
The Cubs put together one of their better all-around efforts of the season behind Travis Wood on Tuesday. Wood held the Dodgers in check while the offense did what they could to put runs on the board. This afternoon figures to be more of the same with Ricky Nolasco on the hill and it will take Edwin Jackson picking up where Wood left off in order for the Cubs to take two of three at Dodger Stadium.
Anthony Rizzo, Brian Bogusevic and Nate Schierholtz are expected back in the lineup as well as Welington Castillo.
The final game of the trip all starts with Edwin Jackson …
After an excellent run from late June through July, Edwin Jackson has reverted back to his early season form over this last four starts. Jackson has really struggled with his command after his eight-inning performance against the Brewers on July 31 in which he completed eight innings following nearly a one hour rain delay.
Jackson is a miserable 0-2 in his last four starts with a 6.95 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Jackson has given up 32 hits with nine walks and only 11 strikeouts over his last 22 innings.
Edwin Jackson missed the Dodgers at Wrigley earlier this month and is 3-1 in five career starts against the team that drafted him in 2001 (sixth round) with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Jackson is 4-3 in 11 games, eight starts, at Dodger Stadium with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.
Dodgers Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
- Carl Crawford – 0-for-4
- A.J. Ellis – 0-for-3
- Mark Ellis – 2-for-9 with a double, a home run and two walks
- Andre Ethier – 3-for-12 with a home run and a walk
- Adrian Gonzalez – 2-for-9 with a home run and a walk
- Jerry Hairston Jr. – 6-for-11 with two walks
- Ricky Nolasco – 1-for-3 with a double
- Nick Punto – 3-for-10 with a double and a walk
- Hanley Ramirez – 2-for-11 with a double, a home run and two walks
- Skip Schumaker – 3-for-16 with a double
- Juan Uribe – 2-for-9 with a home run and a walk
Ricky Nolasco has already beaten the Cubs twice this season and is coming off an excellent outing against the Red Sox. Nolasco posted the only win of the series against Boston after tossing eight inning of shutout ball. Nolasco gave up only two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six. Nolasco has been very good since his so-so outing against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Ricky Nolasco is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. Nolasco has benefited from his change of scenery and has owned the Cubs since Jim Hendry dealt him to Miami in the Juan Pierre deal.
This afternoon will be Nolasco third start of the season against the Cubs. Nolasco is 2-0 in the first two with a 4.50 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. For his career, Nolasco owns a 6-2 record against the Cubs in 10 games, nine starts, with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Ricky Nolasco
- Darwin Barney (.234) – 2-for-13 with a triple
- Brian Bogusevic (.340) – 1-for-2 with a double and a walk
- Starlin Castro (.286) – 6-for-17 with a double
- Edwin Jackson (.100) – 0-for-1
- Junior Lake (.394) – 2-for-3 with two home runs
- Dioner Navarro (.292) – 7-for-15 with two doubles and a home run
- Anthony Rizzo (.252) – 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and a walk
- Nate Schierholtz (.297) – 4-for-17 with a home run
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …