Open Thread: Cubs vs. Astros, Tuesday 8/15, 7:05 CT

These are always fun. Roger Clemens made his major league debut on May 15, 1984 against the Indians in Cleveland (amazingly enough, there's one OTHER active player who played in that game, Julio Franco, who played SS for the Tribe that day).

On May 15, 1984, Juan Mateo was two days short of seventeen months old.

Today's Starting Pitchers

J. Mateo Cubs vs. R. Clemens Astros 1-0 W-L 4-4 2.57 ERA 2.24 5 SO 50 3 BB 14 0 HR 3 vs. Hou -- vs. Cubs

In his first eight starts, Clemens had two wins against the Cubs, two no-decisions and four losses. He's won his last two starts and finally seems out of spring-training mode. He's got a 2.89 lifetime ERA vs. the Cubs, but is only 5-3 lifetime, with two of those wins being the aforementioned pair.

Of all people, Jacque Jones has hit him the best of any Cub -- 7-for-26, but with five doubles, and of all things, four walks.

Mateo's start tonight will be the 47th start by a Cub rookie this year. In the previous 46, they are 13-21 with a 6.15 ERA. That's pretty awful. The last time Cub rookies made more starts for them in a season was 2002, when they had 51 (Mark Prior, 19; Carlos Zambrano, 16; Juan Cruz, 9; and Steve Smyth, 7). The 1966 Cubs had 74 starts by rookies (Kenny Holtzman, 33; Bill Hands, 26; Fergie Jenkins, 12; Rich Nye, 2; and Dave Dowling, 1). This club will likely come close to that mark.

MLB.com Cubs Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.