Chicago Cubs’ skipper Joe Maddon will send hit-and-miss southpaw, Clayton Richard to the mound with an opportunity to pick up the club’s fifth straight win while completing a four-game sweep over the last-place Milwaukee Brewers (44-61) before heading to Pittsburgh.
Richard (1-0, 5.40 ERA) was designated for assignment by the Cubs back on July 22 while reliever Yoervis Medina was recalled in a corresponding move. Richard picked up his first win as a member of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs this past Sunday in a game where infielder Javier Baez launched two home runs in the 9-0 win over the Nashville Sounds.
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The 36-year-old will be picking up his fourth start with the Cubs this season after being acquired by the Pirates at the beginning of July. In those four starts, he’s surrendered nine earned runs on 19 hits including two home runs and has posted a 6/6 K/BB ratio across 15 innings of work.
His recent outing was on the road against the Cincinnati Reds where he picked up his second consecutive no-decision. Hopefully, Richard is able to bring his best to the mound later on this afternoon with the Cubs (56-47) trailing the San Francisco Giants by one game for the second Wild Card spot.
Starting opposite Richard will be veteran right-hander, Kyle Lohse. Lohse (5-12, 6.24 ERA) has had himself a bit of a rocky run within the month of July.
In five outings, Lohse finished the month with a 1-3 record, 19 earned runs, 39 hits, five home runs and a 17/9 K/BB ratio across 28 frames between the Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, Indians, and Giants.
First pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m. central time and will air on ABC-7, WBBM 780 A.M.