Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
gjwaala | 4/23/2007 2:59 pm | Brew Crew News
MATCHUP: Milwaukee Brewers (11-7, Last 10: 7-3) at Chicago Cubs (7-11, Last 10: 4-6)
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LOWDOWN ON THE SHOWDOWN:
Monday, 4/23/07
Milwaukee RHP Claudio Vargas (1-0, 3.46, 1.31)
vs.
Chicago RHP Carlos Zambrano (1-2, 7.77, 1.86)
TIME: 7:05 pm
TV: FSN-Wisconsin (with 12:00 pm next day replay)
RADIO: AM 1310 WIBA (Madison) / AM 620 WTMJ (Milwaukee)
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Tuesday, 4/24/07
Milwaukee RHP Jeff Suppan (2-2, 3.91, 1.26)
vs.
Chicago LHP Rich Hill (3-0, 0.41, 0.68)
TIME: 7:05 pm
TV: FSN-Wisconsin
RADIO: AM 1310 WIBA (Madison) / AM 620 WTMJ (Milwaukee)
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Wednesday, 4/25/07
Milwaukee RHP Ben Sheets (1-2, 5.00, 1.15)
vs.
Chicago RHP Ted Lilly (1-2, 2.42, 0.77)
TIME: 1:20 pm
TV: FSN-Wisconsin (with 7:00 pm same day replay)
RADIO: AM 1310 WIBA (Madison) / AM 620 WTMJ (Milwaukee)
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INJURY REPORT:
MIL OF Laynce Nix (strained right oblique) was on the 15-day DL (retroactive to 3/23). He doesn't currently show up on Class AAA Nashville's roster, which is where he'd be if he was fully recovered. I'll check with Tom Haudricourt & get the update.
CHC CF Alfonso Soriano (left hamstring) collected a pinch-hit double in Sunday's game, & will start Monday night in leftfield.
CHC SP Kerry Wood (shoulder) isn't even on a throwing schedule, & there is no timetable for his return.
CHC SP Juan Mateo (impingement in right shoulder) is on 15-day DL (retroactive to 3/23) & will join Class AAA Iowa once he's fully recovered.
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ABOUT THE CUBS
The Chicago Cubs were sitting pretty after beating Milwaukee on April 7th ... Milwaukee's cross-state rival had taken the first two games of the series rather convincingly, had a 3-2 record to start the season, & headed into the Easter Sunday game at Miller Park with a sweep in mind. But Chris Capuano & Co. walked all over starter Wade Miller, & the Cubbies haven't really rebounded since. Chicago has lost 9 of 13 (including that Easter Sunday game) over the last two weeks, & for now are the cellar dwellars of the NL Central.
Nearly everyone in the Cubs lineup is hitting the ball well, with 1B Derrek Lee (.348/.451/.449, 0 HR/11 RBI), 3B Aramis Ramirez (.339/.371/.559, 3 HR/12 RBI , 2B/OF Mike DeRosa (.259/.310/.556, 4 HR/13 RBI), & catcher Michael Barrett (.281/.348/.509, 4 HR/15 RBI) doing much of the damage. Even when CF Alfonso Soriano has been healthy, his numbers have irked Cubbie fans (& fantasy leaguers) -- .260/.302/.400, 0 HR/1 RBI.
It's been feast or famine for Chicago's starting rotation ... while Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, & Rich Hill have absolutely sparkled (please see stats above), Carlos Zambrano & Wade Miller have really struggled. In a combined 7 starts, Zambrano & Miller have a 1-3 record, & have the following line: 35.2 IP/ 49 H/ 35 R/ 35 ER/ 22 BB/ 22 K, & have surrendered 11 home runs. The Cubs' bullpen has also been pretty hit & miss ... relievers like Neal Cotts, Ryan Dempster, & Michael Wuertz have been "lights out", while Bob Howry, Will Ohman, & Scott Eyre have scuffled on varying levels.
ABOUT THE BREWERS
The Brewers just finished an excellent 4-1 homestand, & have won 9 of 13 overall. Check out the latest BCN game review for more details:
http://www.madison.com/post/blogs/brewcrewnews/130602
Also, take a look at Milwaukee's fantastic offensive numbers (thanks to Jim Skaalen, the Brew Crew is pretty much at or near the top of each NL team batting category):
G.J. Waala
brewcrewnews@gmail.com
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