Pregame Notes: Edwin Jackson, Cubs look to blank Red Sox again

Edwin Jackson (5-8, 5.22 ERA) will look to duplicate his fellow teammate’s dominant performance against the defending World Series champions but will be going up against a man who has the ability to do the exact same thing to opposing hitters. The Cubs’ veteran right-handed starter recorded his first career no-hitter back on June 25, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Rays as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks before being dealt to the Chicago White Sox.

Jackson is looking to bounce back after falling to the Cincinnati Reds on the anniversary of his no-hitter in a 4-1 loss where he worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits while walking four and striking out just two. It was the second time this season where Jackson was only able to punch out two opposing hitters (Reds, Giants) but is yet to record more than five walks in a single contest so far this season. With Clay Buchholz (3-4, 6.75 ERA) on the mound for the defending champs, the Cubs will need to give their starter more than just a two run lead after giving up a total of 18 earned runs off 22 hits (five home runs) in the month of June alone.

Buchholz returned to the Red Sox on June 25 against the Seattle Mariners after missing nearly a month of action and somehow managed to pick up the victory. The 29-year-old righty out of Nederland, Texas allowed the Mariners to pick up four earned runs off seven hits (three home runs) in the 5-4 decision. It was the seventh time in Buchholz’s career where he allowed the opposition to hit three or more home runs in a single game, the most being five – obviously on two separate occasions.

The Cubs will need both Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo to have a better day at the plate after combining for just one hit in seven at-bats. Rizzo went hitless in four at-bats against the Red Sox last night, and as the cleanup man, Castro managed to record one of the five hits – and it came during the top of the first inning.

Tonight’s ballgame is scheduled for a 6:10 p.m. CT start, and will be broadcast on WGN 720, and will be televised on CSN.

Here’s a look at the lineups for both the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox: