After a year in which the Cubs alternated wins and losses consistently, the recent streak of four losses feels like an eternity. Can the Cubs remember what it's like to win again? Carlos Zambrano will try to help them figure it out on Friday night as he takes the mound against the Diamondbacks at Chase Bank Stadium in Arizona.
Zambrano has had an iffy start to the 2011 season, posting some gems along with one or two absolutely terrible performances. On the season he's 2-1 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, inflated after he gave up six runs over five innings in his previous start against the Dodgers. In his career against Arizona, Big Z is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. He's handled most of the Dbacks well, though Chris Young is 1-for-3 against him with a double.
Taking to the hill for Arizona tonight will be Armando Galarraga. The Cubs last saw Galarraga on April 6th, when he threw seven innings and held them to four runs on five hits. In his career against Chicago, Galarraga is 2-0 with a 5.54 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Kosuke Fukudome was 2-for-3 when the Cubs first saw Galarraga this season, and both Aramis Ramirez and Alfonoso Soriano homered off of him.
First pitch for tonight's game will be at 8:40 P.M., CDT, and the game will be televised on CSN+.