Game Nine: Cubs (7-1) vs. Reds (5-3)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Jason Hammel (0-0, 1.50/1.16/2.76) vs. Raisel Iglesias (1-0, 2.31/1.37/2.84)
The Cubs and Reds conclude their first series of the season tonight. And the Cubs have a chance to complete the three-game sweep behind Jason Hammel.
The Cubs will have to figure out young right-hander Raisel Iglesias, who has been rather impressive in his short time in the big leagues. In most cases ‘Meat Loaf’ is acceptable at the end of a three-game set. With the way the Cubs played Monday and Wednesday, Joe Maddon’s team has to be focused on a more rewarding meal and winning its fifth game in a row.
With the day game Friday, David Ross should be behind the plate tonight. Ross caught Hammel in his first start. With Jon Lester not scheduled to pitch again until Sunday using Ross tonight would keep Miguel Montero from catching a day game following a night game and four days in a row.
Tonight all starts with Jason Hammel …
Jason Hammel put together a good outing in Arizona last Friday, especially with what the team was dealing with at the time. Hammel worked well with David Ross, found a rhythm and threw quality strikes. Hammel elevated a couple of times. When he tried to live up in the zone, the Diamondbacks took advantage. Hammel turned the game over to the pen in the seventh inning with the Cubs up 2-1. The D-Backs tied the game in the eighth and walked off with the win in the ninth. Hammel was responsible for one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in six innings.
Hammel makes his ninth career start against the Redlegs tonight. Hammel is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in nine career appearances, eight starts. Last season, Hammel faced Joey Votto’s team four times and was 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Hammel allowed 10 runs, seven earned, on 24 hits with six walks and 17 strikeouts in 20 innings.
Reds Career Numbers against Jason Hammel
- Joey Votto: 4-for-23 with one double, one home run and three walks
- Brandon Phillips: 6-for-19 with one double
- Jay Bruce: 4-for-16 with two doubles, one home run and two walks
- Eugenio Suarez: 4-for-8 with one double
- Raisel Iglesias: 1-for-4 with one triple
- Ivan DeJesus Jr.: 1-for-2 with one double and one double
- Jordan Pacheco: 0-for-3
- Tucker Barnhart: 0-for-2
- Billy Hamilton: 0-for-2
- Tyler Holt: 0-for-2
Raisel Iglesias is a dynamic young right-hander, and if he keeps pitching the way he has, he will soon receive the national attention he deserves.
Iglesias has looked very good over his first two starts, one against a team focused on beyond this season (Phillies) and the other that is contending for a title in the division (Pirates).
Iglesias limited the Pirates to one run on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Iglesias has allowed three runs on 14 hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings this season.
The Cubs did not have much success with Iglesias the second time around last year. Iglesias struck out 10 and allowed just three hits and two runs in seven innings on Sept. 2. And in two starts (12 2/3 innings) against the Cubs a year ago, Iglesias gave up four runs on nine hits with seven walks and 18 strikeouts.
Cubs Career Numbers against Raisel Iglesias
- Jason Heyward: 1-for-9 with one double
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-6
- Dexter Fowler: 1-for-6
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-6 with one home run
- Addison Russell: 0-for-3 with three walks
- Jason Hammel: 0-for-3 with one walk
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-2 with one double and one walk
- Ben Zobrist: 0-for-3
- Tommy La Stella: 1-for-2 with one home run
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …