Chicago @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 9, NY Mets 3
The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs complete their four-game series Thursday night (7:10 p.m.) at Citi Field with a pair of southpaws taking the mound for their respective teams.
The Cubs (6-9) will look to lefty Tom Gorzelanny (0-1, 1.93 ERA) to continue their winning ways. They snapped a four-game losing streak with a 9-3 win over the Mets Wednesday night.
Gorzelanny has been hot and cold for Chicago since he came over from Pittsburgh in a midseason trade in 2009. He got off to a fine 2010 season against Cincinnati, pitching 6 1/3 innings, while allowing no earned runs and striking out seven in a no-decision.
Gorzelanny lasted only three innings in his last start against Houston, though, after getting hit with a line drive back to the box. He surrendered two earned runs, suffering the loss.
Gorzelanny might be pitching Thursday to save his spot in the rotation because fellow lefty Ted Lilly comes off the disabled list to pitch against Milwaukee this weekend.
But the Cubs announced a strange move before Wednesday’s game with the Mets.
Manager Lou Piniella decided that former ace Carlos Zambrano was being moved to the bullpen to be the eighth-inning setup man for closer Carlos Marmol. So it could mean that Gorzelanny will remain in the rotation. He has a 2-2 lifetime record with a 5.68 ERA against New York.
The Mets (6-9) will hope their ace Johan Santana can pitch like he has in two of his three starts in 2010. Coming off elbow surgery last August, Santana (1-1, 3.00 ERA) looked marvelous in his two starts so far, but had a poor outing in his second game against the Washington Nationals.
Against St. Louis last Saturday, Santana pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out nine in the epic 20-inning marathon, eventually won by the Mets.
Santana has not shown any ill effects of the surgery and has been showing high velocity (92 MPH) and his tantalizing changeup has been sharp.
Santana has had success against the Cubs in the past, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.71 ERA against Chicago.
Incredibly, after Wednesday night’s win, the Cubs and Mets have met 684 times over the years and both teams have now won 341 times with two games ending in a tie.
The Cubs are hoping that high-priced outfielder Alfonso Soriano is finally out of his early season funk. Dropped to No. 6 in the batting order to start this series, Soriano responded Wednesday night with the best game in over a year, delivering three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs.
Since being demoted, Soriano is hitting .484 with seven extra base hits.
The Mets are hoping that their high-priced outfielder Jason Bay can get it going. Bay has yet to hit a homer as a Met and is hitting .241 with three RBIs and has struck out 22 times in 54 at-bats.