Rather different look to the line-up this afternoon, with Prado going back into the third spot, his sixth start there this season, but he had only one in all of May. I think it's forgivable, after he hit .313 for the month of May, though there are many who would say Goldschmidt is still the best hitter, overall, in the line-up and so should occupy the #3 hole. On the other hand, who better than Goldzilla to bat clean-up? Ross, Nieves and Pennington replace A.J. Pollock, Miguel Montero and Willie Bloomquist respectively, even though the discarded trio went 6-for-14 with three walks yesterday.
The Cubs entrusted veteran righthander Edwin Jackson to get the team back on the right track Sunday. Jackson entered with a 1-7 record and 6.11 earned run average. But Jackson started out well in his last outing against the White Sox last Tuesday that wound up being rained out. Jackson allowed one hit while striking out three before the storm hit.
?As long as he comes out with the conviction of throwing the ball like he did the other night, that?s all you are looking for,? Sveum said. ?With that kind of stuff, if you come out with the conviction and the velocity that he came out with against the White Sox?that?s all you can ask for, because he?s a ?stuff guy.? He?s not really a pitcher. He?s not going to sit there and paint, pitch down-and-away or do things like that. But his velocity and his hard slider at 86 (miles an hour) to 88 is what he can get quick outs with that stuff.?
