Atlanta @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Atlanta 0
Derrek Lee has barely finished introducing himself to his new team and now he'll pay a visit to his former one.
No, Lee doesn't have a problem letting go of the past. It's just the way the schedule goes sometimes.
The veteran first baseman is expected to play in his first game as a member of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (71-50) on Friday against the reeling Chicago Cubs (50-72), who have dropped 18 of their last 22 contests.
Acquired from the struggling Cubs on Wednesday for a trio of minor-league pitchers, Lee will return to Wrigley Field - a place he's called home for the past seven seasons.
Admittedly, this campaign was not Lee's finest - nor the club's for that matter. After hovering around the .300 mark over his previous six seasons, Lee has limped to a .251 mark this season.
Atlanta hopes Lee will return to his productive ways as it holds only a 2 1/2-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies atop the division.
On Thursday, both the Braves and Phillies were unsuccessful in their attempts to finish off three-game sweeps of the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants, respectively. Atlanta dropped a 6-2 decision to Washington, while Philadelphia was felled, 5-2, by San Francisco.
As for the Cubs, the standings haven't meant much to Lou Piniella's group for quite some time. A four-run seventh inning - highlighted by an alert baserunning display by Will Venable - proved to be too much for Chicago on Thursday afternoon, as the NL West-leading San Diego Padres capped a four-game sweep of the listless Cubs.
Lee will see extended time at first base and will replace Troy Glaus, who was placed on the disabled list earlier this week with a left knee injury.
Ironically, Chicago will start rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin in Lee's old spot. Micah Hoffpauir is expected to man the position full-time, but he was just sent down on Monday and isn't eligible to return until next week.
The Cubs will also start right-hander Ryan Dempster (11-8, 3.62 ERA), who has posted three straight victories - and permitted three total runs in the process. The hurler allowed two in 6 2/3 innings on Sunday in a 9-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Dempster has struggled in his career against Atlanta, offering a 2-9 mark with a 4.83 ERA in 27 appearances.
The Braves will counter with right-hander Jair Jurrjens (5-4, 3.92 ERA), who is 5-1 since coming off the disabled list with a hamstring injury last month.
As for more recent outings, let's take his last one. Jurrjens allowed one run and six hits while striking out seven in as many innings as the Braves cruised to a 13-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.