Spring Training Game Sixteen: Cubs (4-10-1) vs. Royals (6-10)
- Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: Cubs.com
- Location – Surprise Stadium, Surprise
John Lackey (0-0, 9.00, 2.00) vs. Chris Young (0-1, 11.25, 2.50)
The Cubs travel to Surprise for the first time this spring and face the defending World Series Champs on their home turf. The Cubs will shoot for two spring wins in a row behind John Lackey in his second Cactus League start.
The Cubs have one more game with the Royals on the spring schedule after today. The Cubs lost to the Royals back on March 7 at Sloan Park and will welcome Kansas City back to Mesa for practice this Sunday afternoon.
Chris Young gets the start today for the Royals. Derrek Lee’s old friend played an important role for Ned Yost a year ago. The results have not been there for Young this spring and he will look to turn things around this afternoon against the Cubs.
Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies make their spring debut this afternoon on Comcast SportsNet during the commercial-free telecast. Mick Gillispie has the call on Cubs.com.
Today all starts with John Lackey …
John Lackey makes his second spring start this afternoon in Surprise. Lackey completed three innings his last time out against the Reds with mixed results.
Lackey focused on his fastball command in the first two innings and used his other pitches in the third. Lackey allowed three runs on five hits (one home run) with a walk and four strikeouts. Lackey gave up the homer in the first to Jose Peraza and two more runs in the third inning.
Lackey threw a simulated game at the Cubs complex prior to his Cactus League outing. Lackey should complete at least three innings today while targeting four innings based on his pitch count.
Chris Young makes his third start in the Cactus League today. Young has struggled this spring, first against the Angels and in his last time out against the Diamondbacks.
Young was touched up for a run on three hits with a walk and no strikeouts on March 6 in Tempe. The Diamondbacks put a four-spot on the board on six hits in two innings in his last start.
Chris Young has allowed five runs on nine hits, two home runs, with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …