Game Thread #80: Brewers (42-37) at Cubs (38-38)
July 3, 2009Current Series
Cubs lead the series 1-0
| Thu 07/02 | WP: Ryan Dempster ( - ) LP: Seth McClung ( - ) |
5 - 9 loss |
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Milwaukee Brewers Friday, Jul 3, 2009, 1:20 PM CDT Jeff Suppan vs Carlos Zambrano Mostly sunny. Game time temperature around 80. |
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| Sat 07/04 | 12:05 PM CDT | |
| Sun 07/05 | 1:20 PM CDT | |
Hey, it's a day game where no one will complain about shadows! Enjoy some retractable-roofless, open air baseball today as Jeff Suppan takes the mound for the Brewers against Carlos Zambrano.
Suppan (5-6, 4.86) has somehow avoided being the Brewers' worst starting pitcher so far this season, but he has lost each of his last two starts and posted a 7.59 ERA while doing so. He's been a significantly better pitcher on the road, though: Soup has a 6.08 ERA at home and a 3.96 ERA away from Miller Park. Here's something you may not have noticed: After creeping up among the league leaders by allowing 12 home runs in April and May, Suppan only allowed one in June. Hopefully he can keep that up in July, and I can stop making jokes about the special at Soup's Grill: Meatballs served lukewarm and over the heart of your plate.
Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.69) is making his fourteenth start, but has just one win in seven appearances since going on the DL on May 3. He had averaged over 110 pitches in five starts leading up to his last one, where he allowed five runs (four earned) in just 5.1 innings. July has historically been a good month for him: He's 24-9 in 39 starts with a 2.90 ERA. He hasn't been as good against Prince Fielder, who is 11-for-30 against him in his career with seven extra base hits and eight walks (.367/.500/.733).
Jason Kendall, who has ten singles off of Zambrano in 33 career at bats, gets the call to lead off today, with J.J. Hardy replacing him in the #8 hole (h/t McCalvy):
Jason Kendall C
Craig Counsell 2B
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Mike Cameron CF
Corey Hart RF
J.J. Hardy SS
Jeff Suppan RHP
And in the bullpen:
Chris Smith pitched 2.2 innings (50 pitches) last night, and has appeared in two straight games.
Mark DiFelice pitched one inning (13 pitches) last night.
Chris Narveson pitched one inning (11 pitches) last night.
Carlos Villanueva has not pitched since Wednesday.
Todd Coffey has not pitched since Tuesday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Monday.
Trevor Hoffman has not pitched since Monday.
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