(67-45) ||Chicago Cubs|| vs. ||Houston Astros|| (53-57)
Monday, August 4th, 6:05 p.m. CT
(TV: ESPN/WCIU)
WRIGLEY FIELD, Chicago, IL
Pitching Match-Up
Ryan Dempster vs. Brian Moehler
2.90 ERA 4.23 ERA
145.2 IP 93.2 IP
126 K's 50 K's
58 BB's 26 BB's
Home 10-1 Away 2-2
Night 6-2 Night 6-3
Ryan Dempster is having a great year at Wrigley Field with a 10-1 record and 2.72 ERA. He has also been great in night games, with a 6-2 record and a 2.53 ERA. Dempster is 1-1 against the Astros in two starts this year. His July 20th start against the Astros yielded an impressive 9-0 win for Chicago. Dempster shut Houston out in 8 innings with 7 strikeouts and only 1 walk. Since the All-Star break, he has been stellar, with a 2-0 record and 0.86 ERA in 3 games. In his last outing, he held the Brewers to 1 earned run in 7 innings and an impressive 9 strikeouts.
Brian Moehler is having a decent year for the Astros. He has pitched twice against the Cubs this year with an 0-1 record and 3.00 ERA. In his first start against Chicago on May 19th, he was roughed up with 3 earned runs in 5 innings in a 7-3 Astros loss. However, on July 18th Moehler got a no decision while only giving up 1 earned run through 7 innings in a 2-1 Astros win. Since the All-Star break, Moehler is 1-0 in 3 starts with a 4.00 ERA.
GAME PREVIEW
Look for the Cubs to possibly sit some normal starters considering they have played 17 straight games since the All-Star break. Chicago has the day off on Thursday, but still, don't be surprised if a big name or two has the night off. Hopefully Jim Edmonds starts in center considering he has destroyed Moehler in the past with 4 HR's in only 9 AB's against Moehler from 2003-2007 and a .400 average with 1 HR in 5 AB's against Moehler. It also seems like a good night for Lou to consider putting Daryle Ward in the lineup either at first base or right field. Derrek Lee has not had success again Moehler in the past and would probably welcome a night off considering he is 2 for his last 22 AB's with only 9 hits in his last 10 games. Fukudome seems to be out of his slump, but Ward's career numbers against Moehler may warrant his start. D-Ward is a .571 hitter with 3 RBI against Moehler. The Houston Astros have been hot lately coming off a surprising sweep over the Mets in a 3-game series and winning 7 of their last 9. The Astros are 5-4 against the Cubs in 2008 and have won 2 of the 3 series match-ups.
Enjoy the game.
Go Cubs.
