Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies Preview, Thursday 5/17, 7:05 CT

33 years ago today, the Cubs lost to the Phillies 23-22 in 10 innings at Wrigley Field. It's the second-highest-scoring game in MLB history. (The highest was on August 25, 1922, a 26-23 Cubs win, also over the Phillies.)

Since 1979, the Cubs have played the Phillies just once on this date, and it was in Philadelphia on May 17, 1991, kind of the anti-23-22-game, a 1-0, 16-inning affair won by the Cubs.

So tonight's the rematch, 33 years to the day after the teams combined for 22 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs. Yes, the wind was blowing out that day. It won't be tonight. But who knows? At least losing 23-22 would be entertaining.

Cubs lineup:

DeJesus rf, Campana cf, Castro ss, LaHair 1b, Soriano lf, Stewart 3b, Soto c, Barney 2b, Volstad p

Phillies lineup:

Rollins SS, Pierre LF, Victorino CF, Pence RF, Ruiz C, Wigginton 3B, Luna 1B, Galvis 2B, Halladay P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Chris Volstad Cubs vs. Roy Halladay Phillies 0-5 W-L 3-3 6.92 ERA 3.20 22 SO 46 12 BB 12 3 HR 1 vs. Phi -- vs. Cubs

This looks like a pitching mismatch in the Phillies' favor. But then, last night looked like a mismatch in the Cubs' favor... so, let's wait and see.

The Cubs always hit Roy Halladay. Yes, always. He's got higher ERA's against some other teams -- his ERA vs. the Cubs in six career starts is 3.75 -- but Cubs teams, even bad Cubs teams, have consistently defeated him. He's won only one of those six, including a Cubs victory on April 27 in Philadelphia. At Wrigley Field he's even worse: a career 5.29 ERA in three starts covering 17 innings.

Here's hoping tonight comes out like that one, especially with Chris Volstad pitching. Volstad has been bad this year. Well, bad usually in one inning per start. We just don't know which inning that will be. Against the Phillies in Philadelphia on April 30, it was the first inning, after which he settled down and threw five more innings that were very good.

It's a mystery. Tonight could be a high-scoring affair, or a 1-0 game.

Today's game is on WGN. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight.

Today's first pitch thread will post at 7:05 p.m. CDT and the overflows at 8:05, 9:05 and 9:50 p.m. CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.