Happy 4th of July to all.  Ted Lilllooks to help the Cubs close out the weekend series against the Reds at Wrigley Field on a positive note.  Lilly has pitched mostly well this season, although you wouldn’t know it by his record.  Lilly has a 3.12 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP, but he has a miserable 3-6 record.  He has allowed 3 ER or less in 10 of his 13 starts.  In the 6 starts in which he has allowed 1 ER or less, he has won just 3 of those games.  How pathetic is this Cubs offense – that is a perfect example of how pathetic it is.

The Cubs will face rookie starting pitcher Mike Leake.  Leake has put together a solid 1st major league season – 5-1, 3.30 ERA.  In 2 starts against the Cubs in 2010, Leake has given up just 4 ER on 8 hits in 13 2/3 innings pitched.  He beat the Cubs once and took a no decision in the other affair, so the Cubs will certainly have their work cut out for them today.

Go Cubs!