Open Thread: Cubs vs. Nationals, Sunday 5/6, 1:20 CT

I hate putting notes like this out there, because it seems every time I do, it jinxes things. But here goes anyway:

• The Cubs today seek their first five-game winning streak in nearly two years, since July 2005.
• Angel Guzman returns to the club from Iowa to make the start, still seeking his first major league win (he's 0-6). This Sun-Times article says he'll get two turns in the rotation, while the Yahoo game preview for today says he'll get three chances. Whatever. The important thing is to win this one first.
• The Cubs have not swept the Nationals in a three-game series since the franchise's Montreal Expos days -- fifteen years ago, from June 12-14, 1992.

Time to change all of those things this afternoon.

Today's Starting Pitchers

A. Guzman Cubs vs. S. Hill Nationals 0-0 W-L 2-3 2.45 ERA 3.00 8 SO 25 1 BB 11 0 HR 2 vs. Was -- vs. Cubs

Just in case you didn't know, that "vs. Was" link above, which takes you to Guzman's ESPN page, helpfully tells us that his name is pronounced "ANE-jil gooz-MHAN". That's correct, of course, but very oddly spelled. "gooz-MHAN" has never faced the Nats, and Shawn Hill (no relation to Rich) has never faced anyone he's going to be facing in the Cubs' lineup today (the only current Cub he has ever faced is Ted Lilly).

All this week at Gino's East in downtown Chicago, 162 E. Superior, a silent auction of memorabilia has been going on to benefit both the Michael Barrett Foundation and Project 3000, the foundation set up by Derrek Lee and Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck to fight Lebers Congenital Amaurosis or LCA, the disease that is robbing their children of their sight. Today from 7-10 pm, Barrett will make an appearance at Gino's East, where you can get a ball signed by Michael or a photo taken with him. I'm planning on going -- so if you want to participate in this worthy cause, see you there.

MLB.com Mediacenter; today's game is on WGN as well.

MLB.com Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.