Game One Hundred Thirty-Three: Cubs (75-57) vs. Diamondbacks (65-69)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jon Lester (8-10, 3.59/1.21/3.07) vs. Zack Godley (4-0, 1.90/1.10/3.65)
The Cubs get back to work today after a much-needed break and will look to bounce back after a rough series against the Reds behind Jon Lester.
The Diamondbacks make their annual trip to Wrigley and will be without Paul Goldschmidt for the opener. Goldschmidt left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their child. Goldschmidt is expected in Chicago for Saturday’s game.
The Cubs will have their hands full against a Diamondbacks team that beat them in two of the three games in Arizona in late May. The Diamondbacks have a very good lineup that features former Cubs’ backstop Welington Castillo.
Welington Castillo returns to Wrigley and will face his former teammates for the first time. Wely has thrived in an everyday role with the Diamondbacks and is performing the way the Cubs hoped he would over the last two year. In 62 games with Arizona, Castillo is hitting .269/.338/.543 with 10 doubles, one triple and 15 home runs for a .881 OPS.
Jon Lester takes on former Cubs’ farmhand Zack Godley this afternoon. The Cubs dealt Godley, along with RHP Jefferson Mejia to Arizona for Miguel Montero in December. Godley has been lights out in Chip Hale’s rotation. After today’s match-up of Lester and Godley, Jake Arrieta is scheduled to face lefty Robbie Ray on Saturday afternoon. The series and homestand wraps Sunday with Kyle Hendricks squaring off against Rubby De La Rosa.
The Cubs must get back on track this weekend before a very challenging road trip that begins Monday in St. Louis.
Today all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester is coming off a start against the Dodgers that went south in the seventh inning. Lester allowed one run over the first six innings and was rather sharp at Dodger Stadium pitching to Miguel Montero. The Dodgers jumped on Lester in the seventh and scored four runs before the inning was over. Lester ended up being charged with five runs on eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in six-plus innings.
Lester is 4-2 in his last eight starts with a 3.59 ERA and 1.10 WHIP after going 2-2 in five August starts with a 5.04 ERA and 1.38 WHIP (17 runs, 34 hits, eight walks and 30 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings).
Today is Lester’s 18th start of the season at Wrigley. Lester is 6-7 in the first 17 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
Jon Lester received a no-decision against the Diamondbacks in Arizona back on May 22. Lester allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. The Cubs lost the game 5-4 in 13 innings.
For his career, Lester is 1-0 in three career starts against the D-Backs with a 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
Diamondbacks Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Aaron Hill: 4-for-35 with two doubles and five walks
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 0-for-7
- A.J. Pollock: 3-for-6 with one triple
- Ender Inciarte: 0-for-4
- Nick Ahmed: 1-for-3 with one home run
- Welington Castillo: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Phillip Gosselin: 1-for-3
- Chris Owings: 0-for-3
- Yasmany Tomas: 0-for-3
The Cubs get their first look at Zack Godley this afternoon. Godley was recalled from Double-A Mobile to make the start today against the organization that drafted him and traded him away.
The Diamondbacks optioned Godley to the minors not because of his performance but as a way to limit his innings. Godley has been surprisingly good at the big league level and he will be looking to prove a point this afternoon.
Zack Godley makes his fourth start in the big leagues today. Godley is 4-0 in five games, three starts, with a 1.90 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Godley has not started a game in the majors since August 3. Godley picked up the win in Cincinnati after limiting the Reds to one run on one hit with a walk and three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Godley beat the Nationals back on Aug. 3 in his last start after tossing six innings of shutout ball.
Zack Godley posted a 10-4 record in 21 games, 17 starts, combined between High- and Double-A ball in the Diamondbacks’ system this season with a 2.71 and 1.14 WHIP.
Austin Jackson (1-for-2 with a walk) is the only player on Joe Maddon’s roster that has faced Zack Godley in a regular season big league ballgame.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …