Game Forty-Six – Cubs (17-28) vs. Padres (21-27)
- Game Time – 9:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 189, 844
- Location – PETCO Park, San Diego
Edwin Jackson (3-3, 3.98/1.34/3.01) vs. Tim Stauffer (1-0, 2.41/1.39/3.28)
The Cubs will shoot for back-to-back wins and five out of six tonight behind Edwin Jackson. The Cubs were expecting to face two lefties to begin the series, but the Padres placed lefty Robbie Erlin on the 15-day DL prior to Thursday’s game with a sore left elbow.
San Diego decided to use veteran swingman Tim Stauffer in place of Erlin and will try to get as many innings as possible out of him tonight. Stauffer is coming off his longest outing of the season, three innings, and with the Cubs getting into the Padres’ pen in the fifth inning of Thursday night’s game, Stauffer might have to go a little longer than Bud Black would like to see tonight.
The Padres also announced Thursday that right hander Donn Roach would take Andrew Cashner’s spot in the rotation for Saturday night’s game against Travis Wood. Roach has made one start this season and 12 appearances out of the Padres’ pen.
Tim Stauffer has handled lefties this season (.188/.257/.229) and throughout his career (.249/.313/.359) for the most part. Rick Renteria should be well aware of the splits and use as many right handed bats as possible tonight (2014 – .306/.405/.381, career – .261/.331/.359).
Tonight all starts with Edwin Jackson …
After beginning the season 2-2 with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP in his first six starts, Edwin Jackson is 1-1 in his last three outings with a 1.80 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Jackson has given up 16 hits and only three walks in his last 20 innings with 23 strikeouts.
Edwin Jackson is coming off his best start in a Cubs’ uniform. Jackson threw seven innings of shutout ball against the Brewers and struck out a season-high 11 batters while issuing only one walk. Jackson pitched with confidence rarely seen in his time with the Cubs.
Outside of Wrigley Field, Jackson is 1-2 in four starts with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Jackson makes his ninth career start against the Padres tonight.
Edwin Jackson has never beaten the Friars and is 0-4 in 10 games, eight starts, with a 5.93 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Jackson really struggled against San Diego last year (0-1 in two starts with a 10.97 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP) and he is 0-1 in five starts at PETCO with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
Padres Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
Tim Stauffer is making his first start of the season tonight after appearing in 18 games out of the Padres pen. Stauffer pitched three innings in relief on May 18 in Denver his last time out. Stauffer allowed one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. His three-inning outing against the Rockies was his longest stint of the season out of the pen. It is unclear how long he will be able to pitch tonight.
The veteran right hander is 0-2 in five career appearances, three starts, against the Cubs with a 1.85 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Tim Stauffer pitched 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball in one appearance last season against the Cubs.
Cubs Career Numbers against Tim Stauffer
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …