Game 68 Thread / Cubs @ Blue Jays (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Sean Gallagher |
SP |
A.J. Burnett |
3-2, 4.42, 31 K, 13 BB, 36.2 IP | 5-6, 4.98, 78 K, 38 BB, 81.1 IP | ||
SS |
Ryan Theriot | RF |
Alex Rios |
1B |
*Micah Hoffpauir |
DH |
*Matt Stairs |
DH |
Derrek Lee | 3B |
Scott Rolen |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
CF |
Vernon Wells |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | 1B |
*Lyle Overbay |
C |
Geovany Soto | C |
Rod Barajas |
CF |
*Jim Edmonds |
LF |
*Brad Wilkerson |
2B |
Mark DeRosa | 2B |
*Joe Inglett |
LF |
*Eric Patterson |
SS |
David Eckstein |
Can the Cubs reach 20 games over by mid-June? They have a chance by winning tonight or this series, and it would be the first time since late 2004. But they'll be on the short-end of the pitching matchups for the most part. By ERA, Gallagher is outperforming Burnett at this point, but Saturday's matchup is Roy Halladay(3.07) vs Jason Marquis(4.54) and Sunday is Jessie Litsch(3.42) vs. Ted Lilly(5.13). Burnett might also have the added motivation of trying to audition for his next team, as he's one of the names certain to be bandied about during the trade deadline in connection with the Cubs.
The Blue Jays once again tried to convince themselves they could contend in the AL East and have delivered a fine pitching staff, currently third in the AL in ERA and runs allowed. The offense has struggled through injuries and poor performance though. Scott Rolen missed a month, Wells and Eckstein have also been on the disabled list, Aaron Hill is currently on the disabled list with a concussion and they released Frank Thomas early on. That doesn't even mention the horror that was suppose to be Alex Rios's MVP season (so my fantasy teams thought). That all being said, they now find themselves at the .500 mark, 7.5 back of the division-leading Red Sox and five back of the Rays. They also happen to be a half game back of last place in the division - funny how perspective works.
As promised, Lou is using the DH to give some of his stars a bit of a breather by DH'ing them and letting a bench player handle the defensive duties; tonight it's Derrek Lee with Micah Hoffpauir playing first base. Lou also tinkers with the lineup and puts Theriot in the leadoff spot with Patterson (who stays in left field) at the nine spot or the duel leadoff men that many AL lineups feature.
The next fifteen will be against the AL, here's hoping the Cubs can keep the NL mojo they had going.
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