Chicago Cubs starter Chris Volstad's 2012 season has largely been a failure. but Volstad has shown some signs of life in six starts since being recalled from the minor leagues. In those starts, Volstad has posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, significant drops from the 7.94 ERA and 1.65 WHIP he had amassed in 2012 prior to August. On Wednesday night he'll be looking to continue that momentum when the Cubs take on the Washington Nationals.
Volstad has made seven career starts in Washington, and it hasn't been quite friendly to him. In those starts, he's allowed 23 earned runs in 38.1 innings, good for a 5.40 ERA. He's also given up six homers in those seven starts. Volstad, though, hasn't faced the Nats since Sept. 28, 2010.
He'll be opposed by Washington starter Gio Gonzalez, whose numbers have ticked up slightly since the All-Star Break but who is still putting up one of the better seasons amongst pitchers in the National League. Gonzalez, who has a 3.10 ERA on the season and who has struck out 176 batters in 168.1 innings, faced the Cubs in his first start of the season, giving up four earned runs in 3.2 innings.
Game time: 6:05 p.m. CT
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
TV: CSN
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