Game One Hundred Forty-Five: Cubs (62-82) vs. Reds (82-64)
- Game Time – 11:35am CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 183/844
- Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Jeff Samardzija (8-11, 4.29/1.34/3.68) vs. Mike Leake (12-6, 3.46/1.23/4.09)
We Will Never Forget
The Cubs wrap up the series and season series against the Reds this afternoon behind Jeff Samardzija. Dale Sveum’s team has a chance to sweep a series in Cincinnati after winning only three games against the Reds all year prior to Monday. The Cubs are 5-13 versus the Reds with one game left to play.
Jeff Samardzija will look to pick up where both Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson left off. Cubs’ pitching has allowed only one run to the Reds over the first two games while not walking a single batter. It will take a similar performance today against a Reds’ team that will be in must-win mode. Dusty Baker sent all of his starters home early on Tuesday so they would be ready for today’s game.
With Mike Leake on the hill, look for Dale Sveum to load his lineup with lefties again today. But instead of Dioner Navarro and Brian Bogusevic, maybe sticking with the hot-hitting Welington Castillo and Junior Lake would be the way to go.
The final game of the year with the Reds all starts with Jeff Samardzija …
After putting together back-to-back excellent outings against the Nationals and Padres, Jeff Samardzija has not been very good over his last two starts. Samardzija was staked to a 5-0 lead before he allowed a misplayed ball by Junior Lake to get under his skin. Samardzija allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings against Philly and followed up that dud by giving up six runs on nine hits with two walks and nine strikeouts to the Marlins. Samardzija lasted six innings but struggled once again.
Jeff Samardzija is 3-2 in 10 starts since the break with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Samardzija has given up 67 hits with 25 walks and 62 strikeouts in his last 65 innings.
This afternoon will be Samardzija’s fifth start of the season against the Reds. Samardzija has been very good and not-so-good against the Reds this year. Samardzija is 0-1 in four starts with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP … at Great American Ball Park this season, 0-1 in one start with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Samardzija lost to Mat Latos 1-0 that afternoon and one of Samardzija’s bloody baseballs was auctioned off for charity.
Reds Numbers against Jeff Samardzija in 2013
- Shin-Soo Choo – 3-for-10 with a home run and four walks
- Jay Bruce – 3-for-12 with a double and a walk
- Zack Cozart – 4-for-12 with a walk
- Brandon Phillips – 4-for-13
- Joey Votto – 4-for-11 with two doubles and two walks
- Todd Frazier – 3-for-10 with a home run and two walks
- Xavier Paul – 1-for-8 with a double and three walks
- Devin Mesoraco – 2-for-6
- Ryan Hanigan – 1-for-3
Mike Leake has been very good for Dusty Baker this season when most thought he would spend a majority of his season in the minors. After a rough stretch in August (1-1 in five starts with a 6.44 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP), Leake is coming off a very good outing against the Dodgers. Leake held the high-powered Dodgers’ offense to two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
Since starting the season 8-4 in 18 starts with a 2.69 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, Leake is 4-2 in his last 10 outings with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.
This afternoon will be Leake’s fourth start of the season against the Cubs. Leake has been a thorn in the Cubs’ backside since he made his big league debut against them on April 11, 2010. Leake is 2-0 in three starts versus the Cubs this season with a 2.18 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP (five runs, 20 hits, three walks and 14 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings) and owns a 6-2 career mark against the Cubs in 13 starts with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Cubs Numbers against Mike Leake in 2013
- Starlin Castro (.283) – 1-for-10
- Welington Castillo (.353) – 1-for-9
- Anthony Rizzo (.252) – 2-for-9 with a double
- Nate Schierholtz (.275) – 5-for-9 with a home run
- Luis Valbuena (.246) – 4-for-9
- Darwin Barney (.228) – 2-for-8
- Ryan Sweeney (.314) – 1-for-3
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …