Game Seventy – Cubs (29-40) vs. Marlins (36-34)
- Game Time – 11:40am CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – Marlins Park, Miami
Jake Arrieta (2-1, 2.09/1.26/2.32) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.71/1.21/3.17)
The Cubs wrap up the series in Miami and the 10-game road trip this morning in search or one more victory before flying back to Chicago for Thursday’s off day. After winning in surprising fashion Monday night in extra innings, the Cubs gave one away Tuesday. It will be up to Jake Arrieta to keep the Marlins off the board while the offense tries to figure out Nathan Eovaldi again.
The Cubs are 3-2 in the first five games with the Marlins this season. A win today would not only give them a winning record in the season series with the Fish, but it would give the Cubs a .500 road trip after 10 games in 10 days in three cities. Today also marks the end of a stretch in which the Cubs played 29 of 40 games outside of Wrigley Field.
Today all begins with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta is coming off his best start in a Cubs’ uniform and has been very good of late. As has been the case with Arrieta throughout his career, will he be able to keep it up? Arrieta put together his longest start of the year and pitched seven innings of shutout ball in Philly last Friday night. Arrieta gave up two singles and a walk while striking out nine batters.
Arrieta has not allowed a run of any kind over his last two starts (13) innings while surrendered five hits with one walk and 16 strikeouts. Since a rough outing in San Francisco on May 27, Arrieta has allowed one earned run. Over his last three starts (17 2/3 innings), Arrieta is 1-0 with a 0.51 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.
The road has not been as kind to Jake Arrieta this year as Wrigley has to this point of the season. Arrieta is 2-1 in five road starts with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Arrieta pitched six innings of three-hit, no-walk ball against the Marlins on June 7 in his only career start versus the Fish.
Marlins Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
Nathan Eovaldi did not last long in his previous start in Pittsburgh. After the Cubs scored three runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings against Eovaldi at Wrigley on June 6, Eovaldi allowed six runs on 10 hits to the Pirates in 4 2/3 innings.
Eovaldi has been inconsistent this season. Eovaldi will have his very good days, as well as the not-so-good ones. Eovaldi has three no decisions in his last three starts with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP (11 runs on 22 hits with two walks and 15 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings). Nathan Eovaldi is 3-1 in eight starts at Marlins Park this season with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP and he faces the Cubs for the second time this season, and for his career.
Cubs 2014 Numbers against Nathan Eovaldi
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …