Open Thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Thursday 6/14, 1:20 CT

I hesitate to say anything about this pitching matchup, because if I say the obvious things based on the two pitchers' records so far this year, I'm likely to jinx something, or give it the kiss of death.

So read the stats below, and then I'll just stick to the facts.

Today's Starting Pitchers

J. Marquis Cubs vs. J. Weaver Mariners 5-3 W-L 0-6 3.01 ERA 12.46 41 SO 15 29 BB 7 7 HR 4 vs. Sea -- vs. Cubs

Jason Marquis is coming off his worst start of the season last Saturday in Atlanta; however, his ERA is still a good 3.01, and his good outings still outnumber his bad ones. Among the Mariners, he has faced only two hitters for more than 6 career AB: Adrian Beltre, who is out for 3-5 days with a bruised thumb and thus won't play today, and Jose Vidro (4-for-12 with a HR vs. Marquis), who doesn't start much any more.

Jeff Weaver has made four career starts vs. the Cubs (2-0, 3.95 ERA) -- the last one of those was last July 27 when he was with the Cardinals. Check out the boxscore -- of the eight position players who started that game, only one (Jacque Jones, who is .310/.375/.517 lifetime vs. Weaver) is likely to start today (Michael Barrett is going to sit again this afternoon, interestingly enough, and again on Saturday when Carlos Zambrano starts -- even though it's been publicly pronounced that Z and Barrett will be on the field together again "soon". Hmmm). This is Weaver's first start after a DL stint. In his seven starts prior to the DL, he gave up six or more earned runs in five of them, and the 12.46 ERA is as low as it's been all year.

Unlike the Cubs, there are apparently some games that the Mariners don't televise locally back to Seattle; today, according to their schedule, is one of them (what, too early for you out there on the Left Coast at 11:20 am?). WGN will helpfully provide national TV coverage, and there's the Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2006 version)

Discuss amongst yourselves.