From Wrigley

Or should I say the Cubs?  The Pirates are in town for a three game series starting today after getting swept by the Cubs in three games last week.  The Cubs will look to build upon their success last week in Pittsburgh as Rich Hill returns to the rotation to take on Ian Snell.

Hill has struggled lately with his control, which is the key part of the lefty’s game.  In order to be effective Hill has to be able to located his big slow curve in the strike zone and not leave a meatball out over the plate.  Rich had a no-decision against the Pirates in his last outting, giving up 3 runs in 3 innings work, while he surrendered four walks and three hits.  The Cubs went on to win that game by a 7-3 margin, while Hill got a no decision.

Right handed hurler Ian Snell will face the Cubs for the first time this season today.  2-0 in his first three starts, Snell has gotten through 6 innings in each of his starts, and into the 7th in one of them, providing some inning eating ability to an generally weak Pirates pitching staff.  Snell comes into today’s game with a 3.93 ERA with 20 hits, four walks and 15 strikeouts in 18 and a third innings of work.  Pretty decent numbers overall.

The Cubs have hit for average against Snell, but not for much power.  Guys like Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot have all faired well in the past with each sporting higher than a .325 batting average with nine runners batted in.

The Cubs are looking for Hill to step up to the plate and start to regain some of his form from last season.  If he gets roughed up again today I wouldn’t be surprised to see him relegated to the bullpen full time or even sent down to Iowa some time in the next week with either Jon Lieber, Sean Marshall, or Sean Gallagher to get the oppurtunity to start.  The first guess of these would be Lieber, based on his performance so far, but Marshall provides another southpaw.  Of course, I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves…Hill is a good young player going through a rough patch and I’d really like to see him get on track.