Game Thirty-Three: Cubs (25-7) vs. Padres (14-20)
- 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
John Lackey (4-1, 4.02/1.09/3.22) vs. Drew Pomeranz (3-3, 2.12/1.08/2.86)
The Cubs turn to John Lackey in what is now the rubber game of the series with the Padres. The Cubs dropped game one by a final of 7-4 after Pedro Strop and the bullpen allowed five runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Joe Maddon could use a long, effective outing from John Lackey tonight. Short outings from Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester combined with a 13-inning marathon and the bullpen is taxed. Carl Edwards Jr. is active for the game which gives Maddon another option. In order for Maddon to have late-night meat loaf, Lackey needs to step up and keep the Padres off the scoreboard.
The Cubs face a tough lefty in Drew Pomeranz without Ben Zobrist. The Cubs are 6-1 against lefty starters and could really use Javier Baez and Jorge Soler to supply some offense in the nightcap of the twin bill.
Maddon is running out the following lineup in game two: Dexter Fowler CF, Jason Heyward RF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Jorge Soler LF, Javier Baez SS, Tommy La Stella 2B, David Ross C, John Lackey P
Game two all starts with John Lackey …
John Lackey makes his sixth start of the season tonight. Lackey executed a game plan and kept the ball in the park with one exception against the Nationals five days ago. Lackey recorded 11 strikeouts for the second time on the year and limited the Nationals to two runs on six hits with a walk in seven innings. The Cubs won the game 8-6.
Lackey is 1-0 in his last two starts with a 2.40 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. Tonight is the fifth time in Lackey’s career he will face the San Diego Padres.
In four career starts, Lackey is 1-2 versus the Friars with a 4.44 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Last season, the Padres beat Lackey after scoring five runs, four earned, on nine hits with a walk in six innings.
Padres Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Melvin Upton Jr.: 7-for-33 with two doubles, two home runs and one walk
- Matt Kemp: 3-for-19
- Alexei Ramirez: 2-for-13 with one double and two walks
- Wil Myers: 2-for-9 with one double
- Jon Jay: 2-for-7
- Derek Norris: 1-for-5 with one walk
- Travis Jankowski: 2-for-3
- Brett Wallace: 1-for-3 with one double
Drew Pomeranz takes the hill for the seventh time this season. Pomeranz has thrown the ball extremely well this year. Pomeranz has allowed more than two earned runs in only one of the six starts. Pomeranz completed five innings of shutout ball against the Mets his last time out.
Over his last two starts, Pomeranz is 1-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. And on the road this year, the lefty is 1-3 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
Drew Pomeranz is 1-0 in two career starts against the Cubs with a 1.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. At Wrigley Field, Pomeranz completed five innings in one start on Aug. 24, 2012 while he was with the Rockies and allowed two runs on two home runs (Alfonso Soriano, Welington Castillo) with a walk and a strikeout.
Cubs Career Numbers against Drew Pomeranz
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-5
- Trevor Cahill: 0-for-2
- Tim Federowicz: 0-for-1 with one walk
- Jason Heyward: 1-for-1
- David Ross: No official at-bat, one walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …