So, here we are again with an ever-so-must-win spring training matchup against our rivals from the North Side/Mesa.
Join us after the jump for today's pitching matchup, lineup and conversation on today's game!
Jeff Samardzija (1-3, 7.53 ERA in 2009) might be the best-known fringe starting pitching candidate in all of baseball this season, based largely on his former career as a football player at Notre Dame. As a Cub, he wasn't much to write home about last season, posting a 7.53 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 1.8 home runs per nine over 34.2 innings. He also made 18 appearances for AAA Iowa, posting a 4.35 ERA.
Doug Davis (9-14, 4.12 ERA in 2009), meanwhile, is making his first Cactus League start of 2009 after rains washed away his scheduled appearance on Sunday. Davis has been very good against the Cubs over the course of his career, posting a 3.20 ERA in 16 starts. Today he'll make his first game appearance in a Brewer uniform since September 28, 2006.
Via Tyler Barnes and Carrie Muskat, here are today's lineups:
| Cubs | Brewers | ||
| Starlin Castro | SS | Rickie Weeks | 2B |
| James Adduci | RF | Alcides Escobar | SS |
| Derrek Lee | 1B | Ryan Braun | LF |
| Aramis Ramirez | 3B | Prince Fielder | 1B |
| Tyler Colvin | CF | Jim Edmonds | CF |
| Alfonso Soriano | LF | Gregg Zaun | C |
| Bobby Scales | 2B | Jody Gerut | RF |
| Koyie Hill | C | Adam Heether | 3B |
| Jeff Samardzija | P | Doug Davis | P |
Enjoy the game!