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Get to know your opponent: Cubs pitching matchups vs FLA & SF

The Cubs are guaranteed to end this short roadtrip today at .500 or better. That's a plus. Then, they come home to host Florida for 4 games, and San Fran for 2.

If the Cubs want to pick up any ground on first place over the next 7 games, they're gonna have to start playing some great baseball... because after tonight, St. Louis will get a 4 game set with Washington, who may likely be the worst team in baseball this year. The Cardinals follow that up with a 2 game set vs the Phillies, where they'll face the struggling Cole Hamels and his 7.27 ERA.

Cubs vs Florida: After coming out of the gate on fire, Florida dropped 7 in a row, before winning yesterday. The Cubs are somewhat fortunate that the one starter they will not see is ace Josh Johnson. However, they haven't seen much of the Florida starters before, which draws a little red flag. In recent years, the Cubs have had a tendency to struggle against guys they don't know too well.

Game 1 - Sean Marshall vs Chris Volstad: They haven't seen much of 22 year old Volstad, who's off to a fine 2-0 start with 2.72 ERA. At 6'7", he's very imposing on the mound. Soriano has the most offical at bats vs Volstad, going 0 for 6. The Marlins have hit Marshall pretty well. Uggla is batting .385 in 13 ABs, and Ramirez is batting .400 in 10 ABs, with 1 HR, 3 RBIs, and 2 BBs.

Game 2 - Rich Harden vs Graham Taylor: They've never even seen lefty Graham Taylor before. And, for some reason, when the Cubs have never seen a young lefty before, he usually gives them trouble (maybe there's a scouting issue there). Harden has 10 Ks in 35 ABs vs this line-up... pretty much par for the course. The Marlins are batting .200 vs him.

Game 3 - Ted Lilly vs Anibal Sanchez: Aside from Soriano's 13 ABs, nobody on our roster has really seen much of Sanchez. Soriano likely accumulated those ABs with Washington. The Marlins have put a hurtin' on Lilly. They're batting .367 against him, and Dan Uggla has 2 HRs and 5 RBI in just 5 ABs.

Game 4 - Carlos Zambrano vs Ricky Nolasco: The Cubs get to see their former farm-hand, Nolaso, who's off to a horrendous start with a 6.92 ERA.  Only 3 Cubs have any ABs vs Nolasco: Soriano, Miles, and Ramirez. The Marlins are batting a collective .169 vs Big Z.

Cubs vs San Fran: The Giants are currently 9-10, and have scored the least amount of runs in all of baseball (68). However, they're pitching staff has only given up 76 runs, 3rd best in the majors behind Pittsburgh (74), and Kansas City (73). The Cubs will face a young lefty they haven't seen before, and Mr. Cy Young. They're gonna have to play solid fundamental baseball and move runners over to win this set.

Game 1 - Ryan Dempster vs Jonathan Sanchez: Sanchez, like the entire Giants staff, is off to a good start with a 2.60 ERA. And, he's a lefty... and almost nobody on the Cubs has faced him. Again, that's a bad formula for the Cubs. Rich Aurillia (.360 in 25 ABs) and Edgar Renteria (.316 in 19 ABs) have given Dempster trouble in the past... but the rest of the Giants haven't seen too much of him.

Game 2 - Sean Marshall vs Tim Lincecum: Last year's Cy Young award winner has held the Cubs to a collective .194 team batting average. Marshall hasn't faced the Giants a lot, but the team is batting .306 against him.

Schedule courtesy of ESPN

Wed, Apr 29 @ Arizona 3:40 PM   Dempster (1-0) Davis (1-3)
Thu, Apr 30 Florida 8:05 PM   Marshall (0-1) Volstad (2-0)
Fri, May 1 Florida 2:20 PM   Harden (2-1) Taylor (0-1)
Sat, May 2 Florida 1:05 PM   Lilly (2-2) Sanchez (1-2)
Sun, May 3 Florida 2:20 PM   Zambrano (2-1) Nolasco (1-2)
Mon, May 4 San Francisco 8:05 PM   Dempster (1-0) Sanchez (1-1)
Tue, May 5 San Francisco 2:20 PM   Marshall (0-1) Lincecum (1-1)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

5 recs  |  Comment 14 comments

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Very nice summary of the match-ups for the upcoming homestand.

This is particularly helpful early in the season when we play 2 teams like the Marlins and the Giants who have quite a few young players on the roster that we aren’t familiar with.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Apr 29, 2009 11:32 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Damn!

40% chance of facing Lincecum, and we get him…against our #5 guy. Not that Marshall has pitched that poorly. Hopefully ARam and DLee are back and producing at that point. Need you best lineup against that guy…he’s filthy, and not in the needing-a-bath kinda way.

I have nothing funny or creative to write.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Apr 29, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

and we miss Randy Johnson

I dont care about his age, or stats, we have not beaten him once

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Apr 29, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you

Rec’d.

I’m gonna try to play hooky on Tuesday to see Lincecum v. Marshall.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Apr 29, 2009 12:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Gosh Darn it

Of course we run into Lincecum. I like this rundown, helps me to manage expectations for the upcoming week.

www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com

by nji232 on Apr 29, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the preview.

I’m not that worried about Lincecum. He’s been up & down this year.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Apr 29, 2009 1:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ya and he's been up lately.

He was only down due to a very bad stomach virus and a sore shoulder which has gotten better (12 K’s last outing)

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Apr 30, 2009 2:07 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We also do not have to face the Big Unit

Lincecum is NOT the same pitcher from last year. He has some major control issues. So, facing him should not be to bad…the Big Unit has (correct me if I am wrong) never lost to the Cubs.

by cubprofessor on Apr 29, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Like I said above...

temper your expectations to beat up on Lincecum. 33 K’s in his last 3 outings and he’s looked much better. He’s healthy and not throwing up all over the place now and he’s back on form. He won the Cy Young for a reason and he’s the best pitcher in baseball at this point (Greinke will comeback to Earth soon)

33 K’s in 23 IPs (1.62 ERA/0.92 WHIP) in his last 3 starts. Good luck with that.

"Why do you always point to the sky when Zambrano starts?" My girlfriend.

"You just wouldn't get it...it's a Cubs thing..." Me.

by cubs2k8isnxtyear on Apr 30, 2009 2:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree with your assessment about Greinke.

I think he’s just now starting to realize his potential.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Apr 30, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll be at the game tonight

on one of the rooftops. hopefully the cubs can bounce back from that series against the dbacks and find a way to get things going.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Apr 30, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I love this!

From a guy who’s betting on the Cubs, i love this type of Post. What we should do to add on to this would be which one of these games in the community we think we’ll most likely win?

I’m thinking game 2 and 4 of the Florida series are a lock. I’m not too sure about the other ones which is why i’ve been coming here. Great insight.

by Freddyd on Apr 30, 2009 3:01 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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