Chicago @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Milwaukee 0
The Chicago Cubs are hoping a date with the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday is just what the doctor ordered for starter Ryan Dempster.
Dempster (12-10, 3.76 ERA), who has consistently posted strong starts for Chicago all season, has allowed 14 runs over his last two outings.
He allowed three earned runs on seven hits against the New York Mets the last time out, getting the hook before he could finish off five innings of work. He was tagged for seven runs over three innings against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates before that.
Pitch control has been a big problem for Dempster recently. He has walked seven batters in his last 7 2/3 innings, but looks to turn it around against a Brewers team that he has had a lot of success against over his career.
Dempster is 14-3 with a 2.50 ERA in his career against Milwaukee. This season has provided more of the same as he is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts against the Brewers.
The Brewers (65-75) were handcuffed by Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano on Friday night. The hurler went 8 2/3 innings allowing just three hits while striking out nine and walking three. Zambrano was also a force at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Milwaukee sends Randy Wolf (11-10, 4.68 ERA) to the mound Saturday.
Wolf is looking for revenge after he was hammered for eight earned runs with five home runs the last time he faced the Cubs (61-80). The veteran lefty is 4-1 over his last six starts, holding his opposition to fewer than four runs in four of those games.
Wolf is coming off an impressive 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out five and walking two.
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez is still listed as day-to-day as he suffers from a sore right quad.
Ramirez has missed the last few games, but might have a tough time if he does get in the lineup on Saturday. He is 5-for-25 with eight strikeouts in his career against Wolf. Ramirez is only hitting .243 this season, but leads the Cubs with 23 home runs and 73 RBIs.
The Brewers have 163 home runs this season, good for fourth overall in the league, but have struggled against Dempster. Sluggers Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and Prince Fielder are a combined .218 in 98 at-bats against Dempster this season, with two home runs apiece.
The Cubs are 8-5 against the Brewers this year and sit at 5-2 at Miller Stadium. The Brewers head into this game having lost 11 of their last 17 games overall.