Open Thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Monday 6/4, 7:05 CT

As noted in this diary, the Cubs will be without Sweet Lou for 4 games after he was suspended by MLB today for last Saturday's calculated, rehearsed tirade. So he'll be back Thursday for the Atlanta series.

Doesn't matter. The club needs to win, and it doesn't matter who's calling the shots. Rick Morrissey wrote today that he figures the Cubs have begun a 10-game stretch in which they need to go at least 7-3 in order to right the ship, including yesterday's win -- so that means 6-3 between now and next Sunday.

I agree. Let's go.

Today's Starting Pitchers

J. Marquis Cubs vs. D. Bush Brewers 5-2 W-L 3-5 2.93 ERA 5.64 37 SO 52 23 BB 12 5 HR 9 vs. Mil -- vs. Cubs

Jason Marquis is 4-6 lifetime in 13 appearances (11 starts) vs. Milwaukee with a 4.43 ERA -- but a lot of that comes from 2006, when he was 1-1, 7.07 in three starts. He has not faced the Brewers so far this year.

Dave Bush gave up six runs to the Cubs in the first inning on April 6, including three doubles and a Mark DeRosa HR, then shut them down on two hits over the next five innings. So which is the real Dave Bush? We'll find out tonight. Despite facing a right-hander, Matt Murton ought to start tonight, as he is .417/.462/.833 vs. Bush in 12 lifetime AB.

And in the six games vs. Milwaukee this year, Derrek Lee is 16-for-28 (not a misprint: total numbers are .571/.586/.929) with seven doubles, a HR and seven RBI. Let's hope his hot hitting of late continues that trend.

As I noted this morning, five of the seven games on the road trip are on national TV (tomorrow, Wednesday, and Saturday on WGN; Friday on TBS; and Sunday on ESPN). Today isn't one of them, though it should be on EI, and at the Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2006 version)

Discuss amongst yourselves.