clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview, Saturday 8/4, 8:10 CT

By Al Yellon
Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Having become much more curious about the players coming up through the system, I made a decision a few days ago: I'm going to drive down to Peoria Sunday to see their 2 p.m. game against Clinton. Any BCBers going to the game, we can meet up, though I don't yet know where my seat is -- it's being left for me there. I'll tweet the location.

That's why this was somewhat of a disappointment to me:

Disappointment to me, great news for Baez and the organization that he's moving up quickly. I'm sorry I'll miss him, but look forward to seeing Zeke DeVoss and others playing for Peoria.

In connection with the minor leagues and Cubs prospects, I also updated the "Prospect Watch" box on the left sidebar with some new names, and, in addition, updated and merged together the Cubs site links and general baseball site links that are always there.

Have you noticed I haven't said a thing about the major-league Cubs until now? That's because they are likely to be headed to their ninth straight loss in a NL West park tonight (10th straight, if you count the final game of 2011, a loss to the Padres in San Diego). Since 2008, the Cubs are 5-10 in Dodger Stadium.

Cubs lineup:

Castro SS, Barney 2B, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Baker RF, Castillo C, Mather CF, Valbuena 3B, Volstad P

Insert other-split-squad joke here.

Dodgers lineup:

Victorino LF, Ellis 2B, Kemp CF, Ethier RF, Ramirez SS, Loney 1B, Hairston 3B, Ellis C, Kershaw P
Today's Starting Pitchers
Chris Volstad
Chris Volstad
Cubs		 vs. Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers
0-7 W-L 8-6
7.94 ERA 2.95
27 SO 143
17 BB 39
4 HR 11
vs. LA -- vs. Cubs
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2012 - Chris Volstad 0-7 9 9 0 0 0 0 45.1 58 42 40 4 17 27 7.94 1.65
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2012 - Clayton Kershaw 8-6 23 22 2 2 0 0 149.1 119 54 49 11 39 143 2.95 1.06

You have got to be kidding. You want some positive news about Chris Volstad? There is none. He has allowed at least three earned runs in all nine of his major-league starts this year (and four or more in eight of them and in his last four starts, his ERA is 10.90. I thought Volstad might be well-suited to Wrigley Field with his ground-ball tendencies, but he's been worse there (8.22 ERA) than on the road (7.66 ERA). We are so doomed.

Clayton Kershaw last faced the Cubs May 2, 2011 at Dodger Stadium. Look at how many players in that game aren't Cubs any more. The only current Cub who's had any success at all against him is Alfonso Soriano (3-for-8, two home runs).

Today's game is on CSN Chicago.

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 Dodgers site True Blue LA.

Today's first pitch thread will post at 8:10 p.m. CDT and the overflows at 9:10, 10:10 and 10:55 p.m. CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

More From Bleed Cubbie Blue