Alfonso Soriano Links

Soriano/Cubs set to face Pirates

The Chicago Cubs have played some really good baseball as of late. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games, including winning 3 of 4 against the Nationals over the weekend. The Cubs are 43-41 on the season, and 4.5 games out of first place and 4.0 games out of the wildcard spot. The Cubs are 23-20 on the road this season. The Pirates are coming in winners of three straight, all against the front running Brewers. They come in with a 38-47 record, including 20-23 at home. The Pirates trail the Brewers by 10 games.

Tonight’s game pits the Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis 6-4, 3.31 against Paul Maholm 4-11, 4.74. Marquis is coming off a great outing against the Brewers on July 1, a game he went 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, walking 1, and striking out 5. Before that, Marquis had not won since the early part of May. In his career, Marquis has started 12 games against the Pirates, going 5-4 with a 3.21 ERA. His last start, this season against the Pirates, Jason went 9 innings for a complete game, only allowing 3 hits, and striking out 5. The Pirates Paul Maholm has struggled. The lefthander is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Nationals, going 7 innings, giving up 9 hits and 3 runs. Before that, he went 7.2innings against the Marlins, winning a 3-2 game. Maholm is 3-0 career against the Cubs. Alfonso is 1-2 in his career against Maholm/

On Saturday, Ted Lilly, the Cubs lefthander will face John Van Benschoten. Lilly comes in 7-4, with a 3.84 ERA, including two straight wins, including a 7-2 win over the Nationals, and a 8-5 win over the Rockies. Lilly is 0-0 in two career starts against the Pirates, including a 7 inning no decision earlier in the season. Van Benschoten has started four games for the Pirates this year, going 6, 4, 5 and 5.2 innings so far this year. Soriano has never faced the Pirates righthander.

In the final game of the series the Cubs will throw Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano 10-6, 4.04, against the Pirates youngster Shane Youman 1-0, 3.00. Youman has only started one game this season, a 6-2 win over the Brewers last week. Soriano has obviously never faced Youman.

Good luck to Soriano and the Cubs!