7/6-7/8: Braves @ Cubs Series Preview

Written by: David Lee on 6th July 2009

7/6-7/8: Braves @ Cubs Series Preview | read this item

Following a series sweep of the Phillies at home, the Braves again took a step backward by losing two of three to the Nationals. They look to right the ship with a three-game series against the Cubs.

The Braves carried a four-game winning streak into Washington as they faced the cellar dwellar Nationals, and took the first game of the series with a 9-8 win. But a late rally by the Nationals in the second game cost the Braves a win and took the air out of them. It resulted in a poor loss in the third game that gave the Nationals the series. The Braves lost what they gained in the standings, now sitting four games back.

The Cubs have not changed much at all since the Braves last saw them in the first week of June. They continue to hover around .500, struggling on offense and failing to back a pitching staff that has the fourth best ERA in the National League. The Braves split a couple games with the Cubs in early June and won a postponed game later in the month. The Cubs are currently 40-39, 2.5 games behind in the standings.

(2009 stats followed by career stats vs. opposing team)
7/6 – 7:05
Jair Jurrjens (6-6, 2.73 ERA)
vs.
Randy Wells (3-3, 2.43 ERA…0-0, 1.29 ERA in 1 start)

The Braves remember Wells very well since he took a no-hitter late into his outing against the Braves earlier in the season. He possesses strong command, evident in his 14 walks allowed in 63 innings and a 1.08 WHIP. But the Cubs have had trouble scoring runs for him. Speaking of which, Jurrjens gets the start for the Braves. He continues to cruise through his starts, shutting the Phillies out over seven innings in a 11-1 win in his last outing.

7/7 – 8:05
Javier Vazquez (5-7, 3.05 ERA…4-4, 4.83 ERA in 17 starts)
vs.
Ryan Dempster (5-5, 4.09 ERA…2-11, 5.14 ERA in 15 starts, 26 total games)

I actually went back and double checked Dempster’s career numbers against the Braves to make sure that record was correct. He has a 2-11 career record versus the Braves with a rather unimpressive ERA. Dempster gave up three runs in 6.2 innings against the Brewers in his most recent start. Vazquez struggled a bit with command in his last start, only going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs to the Phillies. He pitched 6.2 shutout innings against the Cubs in the makeup game.

7/8 – 2:20
Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.46 ERA…0-0, 3.86 ERA in 1 start)
vs.
Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.50 ERA…2-2, 4.62 ERA in 10 starts)

Zambrano takes to the mound for the Cubs in the series finale. He missed a scheduled start against the Braves in their last matchup due to missing the team plane. Zambrano allowed one run in seven innings against the Brewers in his most recent start. Kawakami is looking to rebound from a rough past outing, giving up four runs in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed three runs in seven innings to the Cubs earlier in the season.

Key Cubs Relievers:
CL – Kevin Gregg (37.1 IP, 3.62 ERA, 14 SV…17.1 IP, 5.71 ERA, 5 SV, 4 BSV)
SU – Carlos Marmol (39.1 IP, 3.66 ERA, 17 HLD…9 IP, 3.00 ERA, HLD)
MR – Aaron Heilman (38.1 IP, 3.76 ERA, 5 HLD…52 IP, 5.02 ERA, 7 HLD)

Key Cubs Hitters:
1B – Derrek Lee (.285, 15 HR, 51 RBI….257, 21 HR, 62 RBI in 120 games)
LF – Alfonso Soriano (.226, 14 HR, 32 RBI….342, 16 HR, 35 RBI in 38 games)
SS – Ryan Theriot (.289, 7 HR, 29 RBI….253, 0 HR, 5 RBI in 20 games)

Cubs Injuries:
2B – Aaron Miles (15-day, hyperextended elbow)
CF – Reed Johnson (15-day, back spasms)
RP – Angel Guzman (15-day, strained triceps)
RP – Jason Waddell (15-day, non-baseball related medical issue)
RP – Chad Fox (15-day, elbow inflammation)
3B – Aramis Ramirez (15-day, dislocated shoulder)

Share on Tumblr

Topics: Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, derrek lee, jair jurrjens, javier vazquez, randy wells