The Cubs shut down Florida’s Gary Sheffield last weekend by intentionally walking him three times in one game and pitching around him every other time he came to the plate. Mike Morgan might want to consider a similar strategy against Fred McGriff.
Morgan, who has been on the disabled list four times in the last year and is fighting to prove he still can be a reliable member of the rotation, is scheduled to face McGriff and the Braves Wednesday in his second start of the season.
In his career, Morgan is 4-9 against the Braves, despite an impressive 2.86 earned-run average. He was 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA during his injury-riddled 1994 season.
McGriff, in particular, has feasted on Morgan. He is 15 for 33 (.455) against Morgan in his career. Not far behind is David Justice, who is 8 for 24 with three homers against Morgan. And then there’s Jeff Blauser, a liftetime .271 hitter, who is batting .356 (68 for 191) in his career against the Cubs and .300 (9 for 30) against Morgan.
Better than the rest: The Cubs are 19-11. That’s two games better, at this point, than the 1984 and 1989 teams that won the National League East.
Turnaround: After 30 games this year, the Cubs have a 3.34 earned-run average. They had a 5.73 ERA after 30 games last year when they already were 11 games out of first place and resting comfortably at the bottom of the division.
Grace-ful: First baseman Mark Grace has an 11-game hitting streak, longest on the team this year. During that stretch he is 16 for 45 (.355).
Ready for Avery: Grace is 8 for 26 (.308) against Steve Avery, the Braves’ scheduled starter Wednesday. Rey Sanchez is 5 for 13 (.385) and Sammy Sosa is 3 for 9 (.333) with a homer. On the other hand, Shawon Dunston is 1 for 12 (.083) with four strikeouts.
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