Pregame Notes: Cubs try to right the ship in Philly

With the worst road record in baseball and coming off a series loss in Pittsburgh, the Cubs will try to get things going in the right direction tonight when they take on Ryne Sandberg‘s Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

Also in last place, but finally moving in the right direction with their first season sweep under their belts earlier this week, the Phillies are only 15-19 at home this season. Overall they stand at 28-36 and are in the cellar in the NL East. They trail first-place Washington by only 6 1/2 games, however.

The Cubs lineup will have a different look tonight as the team’s regular leadoff man Emilio Bonifacio will sit after suffering a rib injury in the first inning of last night’s 4-0 loss in Pittsburgh. Bonifacio was put on the 15-day disabled list earlier today and Ryan Sweeney was activated to take his place. Sweeney will start tonight in center field after missing about two months to a hamstring injury.

The Phillies are coming off a three-game sweep of the Padres in which they outscored San Diego 15-5. The series included a walk-off, 3-0 win on Wednesday and the Phils are hoping to keep the good times rolling and make their way out of last place sooner rather than later.

Jake Arrieta (1-1, 2.50) gets the start for the Cubs while Roberto Hernandez (2-4, 4.35) will go for the Phillies.

Despite the recent sweep, the Phillies are still only 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 6-4 in their last 10 games – even though they lost three of four in the steel city earlier this week.

Tonight’s Lineups: