Chi Cubs (26-25) at Atlanta (26-26)

7:00 pm ET Turner Field
chc

Bradley out for Big Z's return in finale

Guy Curtright / Special to MLB.com
His six-game suspension over, the Cubs will have Carlos Zambrano back on the mound Thursday night for the deciding game of their series with the Braves. Milton Bradley, however, won't be available.
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Cubs probable pitcher

Carlos Zambrano

  • #38 RHP
  • (3-2) 4.22 ERA 46 SO
This will be Zambrano's first start back after serving his six-game suspension. The right-hander was penalized for his antics on May 27, when he argued a close call at home plate, threw a baseball into left field then hurled his glove. Zambrano took his frustrations out on a Gatorade dispenser in the Cubs dugout. As far as pitching goes, he's one win away from No. 100 in his career and needs four K's to tie Bill Hutchinson for sixth on the team's all-time strikeout list. Before he was ejected, Zambrano gave up two runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings against the Pirates.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 99-63 3.50 1431.0 641 1218 .229
Season 3-2 4.22 49.0 21 46 .269

Series at a Glance

Standings - 06/04/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago Cubs (NL Central) 26 25 .510 4.0 16-10 10-15
Atlanta Braves (NL East) 26 26 .500 5.5 12-13 14-13
Stats - 06/04/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CHC .250 226 56 214 23 382 4.17 449.0 405 195 410
ATL .258 228 38 215 12 332 4.04 468.0 447 178 398
atl

McLouth expected in Atlanta on Thursday

Adam Rosenberg / MLB.com
Just four days into June, the Braves' outfield has undergone several changes since the final day of May. The biggest: the acquisition of center fielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates.
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Braves probable pitcher

Jair Jurrjens

  • #49 RHP
  • (5-2) 2.59 ERA 40 SO
The right-hander received the run support he had been seeking all season but struggled in the 88-pitch outing against the Diamondbacks in his last time out. Against Arizona, Jurrjens was charged with eight hits and five runs in five innings pitched. He had pitched at least six innings in his four previous starts and seven of his last eight before the outing in Arizona.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 21-13 3.54 285.0 104 192 .252
Season 5-2 2.59 66.0 23 40 .241

Cubs hitters vs Jair Jurrjens

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Adduci, James - - - - - - - -
Baker, Jeff - - - - .250 4 0 0
Blanco, Andres - - - - - - - -
Bradley, Milton - - - - .000 2 0 0
Castillo, Welington - - - - - - - -
Colvin, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Fontenot, Mike - - - - .333 3 0 0
Fox, Jake - - - - .333 3 0 0
Fukudome, Kosuke - - - - 1.000 2 0 1
Fuld, Sam - - - - .500 6 0 0
Hill, Koyie - - - - - - - -
Hoffpauir, Micah - - - - - - - -
Lee, Derrek - - - - .333 3 1 2
Miles, Aaron - - - - - - - -
Ramirez, Aramis - - - - .000 3 0 0
Soriano, Alfonso - - - - .333 3 0 0
Soto, Geovany - - - - .000 2 0 0
Theriot, Ryan - - - - .500 2 0 1

Braves hitters vs Carlos Zambrano

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Blanco, Gregor - - - - .333 3 0 0
Canizares, Barbaro - - - - - - - -
Church, Ryan - - - - .211 19 0 1
Conrad, Brooks - - - - .333 3 0 0
Diaz, Matt - - - - - - - -
Escobar, Yunel - - - - .000 6 0 0
Hernandez, Diory - - - - - - - -
Infante, Omar - - - - - - - -
Johnson, Kelly - - - - .286 14 0 1
Jones, Brandon - - - - - - - -
Jones, Chipper - - - - .294 17 1 2
McCann, Brian - - - - .583 12 0 4
McLouth, Nate .000 3 0 0 .208 24 0 4
Prado, Martin - - - - .500 2 0 0
Ross, David - - - - .167 12 2 3
Sammons, Clint - - - - - - - -
Schafer, Jordan - - - - - - - -