Game Ten: Cubs (5-4) vs. Padres (7-4)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 10.38/2.08/2.28) vs. Tyson Ross (1-0, 3.75/1.50/2.72)
It’s the first Saturday of the season at Wrigley and the Cubs look to stay over .500 behind Kyle Hendricks.
The offense will not get a break with Tyson Ross on the hill for the Padres. Hendricks is going to have to keep the Padres in check while his teammates scratch out runs against Ross. The Cubs beat James Shields on Friday, but in the end they didn’t win the game. It’s going to take a similar performance today … get ‘em on, get ‘em over and get ‘em in and take advantage of every opportunity the Friars’ defense gives them.
This afternoon all starts with Kyle Hendricks …
Kyle Hendricks will shoot to bounce back today from his first start of the season. Hendricks said he didn’t have it last Sunday in Colorado. Hendricks was lifted with one out in the fifth inning and was bailed out of a big jam by the pen or his line would have looked a lot worse than it did. Hendricks gave up five runs on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
At the minimum, Joe Maddon could use a quality start from Hendricks today. The bullpen isn’t exactly at full strength and the Cubs are at the beginning of a stretch of 13 games in a row without a day off.
Kyle Hendricks was very good at Wrigley last year. Hendricks posted a 4-1 record in seven starts with a 1.99 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Over 40 2/3 innings, Hendricks allowed nine runs on 44 hits with five walks and 22 strikeouts. Hendricks makes his second career start against the Padres this afternoon.
Kyle Hendricks pitched seven innings of shutout ball at Wrigley against the Padres last July. Hendricks ended up with the first win of his career on July 22. Hendricks allowed five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Hendricks will face a much different Padres team today.
Alexi Amarista (1-for-3), Matt Kemp (0-for-3) and Will Venable (1-for-3) are the only players on the Padres active roster that have faced Kyle Hendricks in a regular season game.
Tyson Ross makes his third start of the young season today. The Padres are 2-0 in Ross’ first two outings thanks to a pair of quality starts from Ross. Over the first two games, Ross has allowed a lot of baserunners. Ross has walked seven batters in 12 innings while giving up 11 hits. Ross is a better pitcher than he’s been so far this season and could pose another big challenge for the Cubs this afternoon.
Today is Ross’ second career start and third appearance against the Cubs. Ross has allowed one run on five hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts in eight innings. Last July 24, Ross dominated the Cubs for six innings. Ross gave up one run on five hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts in six innings. Ross would have pitched deeper into the game. But his pitch count was rather high due to the 11 strikeouts and the Padres blew the game wide open with a nine-run sixth inning. There was simply no reason for Bud Black to leave him in the game.
As is the case with a majority of the Padres staff, Ross hasn’t fared as well on the road (4.70 ERA, 1.49 WHIP in 65 games, 39 starts) as he has over the course of his career at the pitcher’s park in San Diego (2.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 56 games, 31 starts).
Cubs Career Numbers against Tyson Ross
- Miguel Montero: 4-for-18
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-5 with one home run and two walks
- Starlin Castro: 1-for-2 with two walks
- Arismendy Alcantara: 1-for-3
- Chris Coghlan: 0-for-3
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-3
- Jonathan Herrera: 1-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …