A win tonight, and the Cubs have already accomplished as much as I hoped they might in this four-game series with the Phillies. I find that if I set my hopes low, I’m rarely disappointed. Well, except for the last two years of Chicago Cubs baseball. I couldn’t set my hopes low enough.
Randy Wells gets his second start, and another chance to demonstrate that he should be in the bigs, somehow. As Paul Maholm demonstrated last night, this is a lineup you can dominate.
Tony Campana gets the night off, which is understandable, but a bummer given who’s playing first for the Phillies tonight. The drag bunt would literally work every time.
It’s another national game tonight on MLBN (and WGN), so get your watchin’ on.
UPDATE: Now Geovany Soto has some upper back tightness, so Welington Castillo will make his 2012 debut in Soto’s place.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (7-13) at Philadelphia Phillies (9-11), 6:05pm CT on WGN and MLBN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
The Game Thread lives here. You should participate in the madness by clicking on me. And, of course, for those who aren’t into message board-style game threads, please feel free to use the comments on this post for your in-game commentary/outbursts.
The Series Preview for this series lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Randy Wells (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 2.20 WHIP)
versus
Joe Blanton (1-3, 4.34 ERA, 3.4 K/9)
Philadelphia Phillies Lineup
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Placido Polanco, 3B
3. Hunter Pence, RF
4. Jim Thome, 1B
5. Shane Victorino, CF
6. Laynce Nix, LF
7. Carlos Ruiz, C
8. Pete Orr, 2B
9. Joe Blanton, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Darwin Barney, 2B
3. Starlin Castro, SS
4. Bryan LaHair, 1B
5. Alfonso Soriano, LF
6. Ian Stewart, 3B
7. Reed Johnson, CF
8. Welington Castillo, C
9. Randy Wells, P