Spring Training Game Twenty-Six: Cubs (8-16-1) vs. Mariners (13-12-1)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB.TV – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score
- Location – Sloan Park, Mesa
Jason Hammel (2-0, 1.20, 0.87) vs. James Paxton (1-1, 9.00, 1.91)
The Cubs spend their final Sunday in the Valley taking on the Mariners at Sloan Park. The Cubs lost the exhibition game 10-8 with Seattle in Peoria back on March 10. The next time the Cubs square off against the Mariners every pitch and every out will count. The Mariners make a rare trip to Wrigley at the end of July (July 29-31) for a three-game series.
Jason Hammel gets the ball today which means Kyle Schwarber will be in the starting lineup behind the plate. Hammel has pitched extremely well this spring and will look to make his last start in the Cactus League as good as the first four.
Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies have today’s game on Comcast SportsNet. And Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer will spend Easter Sunday calling the action on 670 The Score.
Today all starts with Jason Hammel …
Jason Hammel makes his fifth and final Cactus League start this afternoon. Hammel had a good outing against the Reds his last time out. Hammel was charged with two runs, one earned, on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts in five innings.
Hammel has shown he is healthy this spring and the changes he made in the off-season to his delivery have produced positive results.
In four starts this spring, Hammel has allowed three runs, two earned, on 11 hits with two walks and 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.
The Cubs get their first look at Mariners’ lefty James Paxton. The big southpaw has been inconsistent at best in the Cactus League. Paxton had rough outings against the Diamondbacks and A’s. In his last start, Paxton was charged with seven runs, all earned, on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in two innings against the Athletics.
In four starts, Paxton has given up 12 runs, 11 earned, on 16 hits with five walks and six strikeouts in 11 innings.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …