New York @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2010 ) NY Mets 6, Chi. Cubs 7
As the Chicago Cubs look for something to salvage from a disappointing season, they can point to the recent resurgence of Carlos Zambrano as one of few bright spots.
The often volatile 29-year-old right-hander will look to continue his turnaround on Saturday and try to win his fourth consecutive decision when the Cubs take on the New York Mets in the second of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Zambrano (6-6, 4.36 ERA) was placed on the restricted list shortly after a blow-up in the dugout June 25 against the Chicago White Sox. A month off for anger management seems to have done Zambrano some good.
Since returning to the rotation, Zambrano has shown glimpses of returning to the form that prompted the Cubs to sign him to a huge contract before the 2008 season. He has posted a 3-0 mark with a 1.84 ERA in five starts since Aug. 9.
Zambrano faced the Mets on April 20, allowing two runs over six innings to take the loss in a 4-0 defeat. He is 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 appearances against New York.
Mets second baseman Luis Castillo has given Zambrano problems, going 11-for-20 (.550) with eight walks against him. But Zambrano has shut down All-Star third baseman David Wright, who homered and drove in three runs Friday, keeping him to three hits in 21 at-bats with 10 strikeouts mixed in.
The Cubs are 7-3 under interim manager Mike Quade, who took over when Lou Piniella retired on Aug. 22. They've won each of their first three series under Quade, and they can ensure a fourth consecutive series victory with a win on Saturday.
The Mets, meanwhile, have dropped seven of nine.
Chicago got a lift from a pair of three-run homers in Friday's series opener, as Alfonso Soriano and Blake DeWitt homered in a 7-6 victory.
The Cubs will try to keep it going against promising right-hander Jenrry Mejia, who is scheduled to make his first career start.
The 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic made 30 relief appearances for the Mets before being sent to the minors June 20 to be stretched out for a return to the majors as a starter. He adjusted well to the change, going 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in six starts at Double-A Binghamton and allowing one run over eight innings Monday for Triple-A Buffalo to earn his September recall.
Mejia (0-2, 3.25 ERA) made two relief appearances against the Cubs in April, tossing two scoreless innings April 19 and walking the only batter he faced three days later.