For those fans that forgot the Cubs are still playing baseball, here is a quick summary of what happened this past week. The Cubs hosted the Houston Astros as the third-worst team in MLB (Chicago) took two of three from the worst team in the league (Houston). It annoys me that the team Chicago is trying to catch for next year’s first overall pick, they blow out twice. The season has been a waste from the start and the only thing left for the Cubs to do is to pull a Detroit Lions and lose games to get that number one overall pick. Starlin Castro is still struggling and even Anthony Rizzo has come back down to earth. Along with them, Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters are not impressing anyone yet. If this is the future of the Cubs, I’m concerned, but I do want to see the young prospects get their at-bats in the big-leagues, especially against teams in a pennant race. Luckily for them they are traveling to Ohio for a four-game series this weekend against the first-place Cincinnati Reds. They’ll play a double header Saturday to make up the May 1 game that was postponed.
Probable Starters
Game 1 (Friday, 6:10 PM CT)
Travis Wood (4-8, 4.52 ERA) vs. Bronson Arroyo (8-7, 3.95)
Game 2 (Saturday, 12:10 PM CT)
Jeff Samardzija (8-10, 4.06) vs. Johnny Cueto (15-6, 2.45)
Game 3 (Saturday, 6:10 PM CT)
Brooks Raely (0-2, 9.00) vs. TBA
Game 4 (Sunday, 12:10 PM CT)
Chris Volstad (0-9, 6.96) vs. Mat Latos (10-3, 3.63)
Series Stud (last series)
CHC: David DeJesus (5-for-9, 4 BB, 2 HRs, 3 RBI’s, 2 R’s)
DeJesus had a great series finale against the Astros as he went a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs and three runs driven in. DeJesus does exactly what you want from your leadoff hitter and that’s to get on base.
CIN: Mike Leake and Jay Bruce
Bruce hit a walk-off three-run home run in the series opener. In the second game of the series, Leake pitched a complete game, giving up only one run on four hits for the Reds.
Series Dud (last series)
CHC: Josh Vitters (1-for-13, 4 K’s)
Vitters was hyped up to have a great bat in Triple-A but his flaws were his defense at third. So far the success he had in the minors has not carried over into the big leagues, as Vitters is batting .103 (3-for-29) with nine strikeouts. While he should not be demoted if his struggles continue, he probably will be starting 2013 back at Triple-A Iowa.
CIN: Wilson Valdez and Devin Mesoraco
Both are not everyday starters, however, both are having horrible performances at the plate. Valdez is batting .087 (2-for-23) while Mesoraco is hitting .100 (1-for-10) so far in the month of August.
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