Game One Hundred Thirty-Eight: Cubs (58-79) vs. Marlins (51-85)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 189/844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Edwin Jackson (7-14, 4.90/1.42/3.72) vs. Tom Koehler (3-9, 4.72/1.41/4.27)
The Cubs will try to even the series with the Marlins tonight behind Edwin Jackson. The Cubs struggles at Wrigley Field continued on Monday and Jackson will look to keep the Marlins off the board while the Cubs’ offense tries to figure out Tom Koehler.
The key tonight will be to make Koehler work. The Cubs were extremely aggressive against Henderson Alvarez on Monday and made it rather easy on the rookie right hander. Koehler struggles with his command and will issue free passes. It will be up to Dale Sveum’s lineup to take advantage of their opportunities.
The Cubs’ clubhouse should be a little more crowded today than it was yesterday. The Cubs are expected to add catcher J.C. Boscan to the active roster along with three to four other players. Brooks Raley is expected to join James Russell in the pen and give Dale Sveum another lefty reliever. Justin Grimm is also expected to be called up and added to the roster. According to reports, the Cubs had planned on activating Rafael Dolis from the DL but he left Monday’s game in Kane County with an apparent arm injury and his status is unknown at this point. Bruce Miles reported that a player not currently on the 40-man roster could be called-up this week, but he did not mention which player, but Miles did say it would not be Javier Baez.
Updated 3:37 CDT – The Cubs called up RHP Justin Grimm, C J.C. Boscan, LHP Zac Rosscup and LHP Brooks Raley on Monday afternoon. Dave Sappelt was designated for assignment.
Tonight all begins with Edwin Jackson …
Edwin Jackson picked up a quality start after allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits to the Dodgers in 6 2/3 innings his last time out. Jackson’s own error led to the two unearned runs and while he pitched better, it was not necessarily a quality start. Jackson walked two and struck out five.
After a tremendous July in which Jackson posted a 3-1 record in five starts with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, Jackson had a horrible August and has to be glad the calendar flipped to a new month. Jackson was 0-3 in five starts last month with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.
Edwin Jackson is 4-6 in 11 starts at Wrigley this season with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP and will make his second start of the season against the Fish tonight. Jackson received a no decision on April 25 in Miami after allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Jackson is 1-6 in nine games, eight starts, against the Marlins with a 6.39 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP.
Marlins Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
- Juan Pierre – 4-for-15 with a walk
- Placido Polanco – 2-for-13 with three walks
- Greg Dobbs – 2-for-8 with a walk
- Jeff Mathis – 2-for-7 with two walks
- Giancarlo Stanton – 3-for-7 with a double and a walk
- Chris Coghlan – 3-for-7 with a double
- Logan Morrison – 0-for-4 with two walks
- Justin Ruggiano – 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
- Donovan Solano – 2-for-4 with a walk
Tom Koehler is coming off a rough outing against the Nationals. Koehler lasted just five innings and gave up six runs on seven hits and four walks. Koehler will get himself into trouble with free passes, the Cubs just have to cash those free baserunners into runs.
Koehler has struggled over his last eight starts. Koehler is 2-4 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Teams have hit .302 against him during that span. Over his last 45 1/3 innings, Koehler has given up 55 hits with 21 walks and 37 strikeouts.
Tom Koehler has faced the Cubs for one inning in his career, and that perfect inning was on April 26 of this season. Koehler will make his first career start against the Cubs tonight . Starlin Castro (0-for-1) is the only player on the Cubs active roster that has faced Koehler in a big league ballgame.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …