It may be hard to believe with the Cubs playing the way they are now, but Mike Quade's squad swept a three-game series in Miami last September, outscoring the Marlins 20-6. Of course, that was after the Cubs got swept by the same Marlins team last May, just a little over a calendar year ago.
In short, who knows what will happen tonight and tomorrow, in the Cubs' final appearance in the house of horrors where they lost Game 5 of the 2003 NLCS and... well, you know the rest... before the Marlins move into their new retractable-roof stadium next year. The Miami-area weather forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms -- typical for that tropical area -- with a high in the mid-80s and low near 70.
For the temperatures, at least, the Cubs will be grateful.
Cubs lineup:
Fukudome RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, Ramirez 3B, Pena 1B, Byrd CF, Soriano LF, Hill C, Dempster P
Marlins lineup:
Coghlan CF, Ramirez SS, Morrison LF, Sanchez 1B, Dobbs 3B, Stanton RF, Buck C, Infante 2B, Nolasco P
Incidentally, I have received a request from a BCB'er who would like to see the lineups after the jump next to the pitcher boxes. I've been putting them here so they're on the front page. Please vote in the poll.
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Ryan Dempster once pitched for the Marlins. Ricky Nolasco was once a Cubs prospect -- traded in the infamous Juan Pierre deal. This information really doesn't matter; just thought it was worth mentioning.
Dempster's season ERA is still unsightly, but in his last three starts he's posted a 2.45 ERA and struck out 20 in 20 innings, while allowing only one home run (after giving up nine in his first six starts this year). He's got an excellent career record starting against the Marlins: four starts, 1.08 ERA, 25 K and no HR in 25 IP (starts only, does not include relief appearances vs. Florida). Wes Helms is the only current Marlin who gives him trouble (5-for-11).
Ricky Nolasco also has four career starts against his opponent today, three of them excellent, and an overall 2.67 ERA vs. the Cubs. Carlos Pena, his former cross-state rival with the Rays, has a pair of homers off him (in only three at-bats).
Today's game is on WGN and FSN Florida. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Marlins site Fish Stripes. Go say hello. They seem a little lonely over there.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at 6 p.m. CDT and the overflow threads will post at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.