Cliff Lee's first outing of the season was not exactly great. The starting pitcher got banged up despite earning the win, currently carrying a 14.40 ERA. Lee finished last season dominant. He finished 10th in wins with a 2.87 ERA. He looked even sharper in spring training, posting a 2.55 ERA. However, against the Texas Rangers, the veteran gave up eight runs off 11 hits in just five innings. The Phillies may have won, but now Lee needs to bounce back against the Chicago Cubs.
Jeff Smardzija's first outing went much better. He went seven innings in the team's first game against Pittsburgh throwing 89 pitches, but the Cubs lost in the 10th innings. Samardzija had three strikeouts in the game, matching his lowest total from 2013. He finished fourth last season with 214 strikeouts. Against the Phillies, Smardzija has not been good. The pitcher is 0-2 with a 14.18 ERA in his last three starts against the NL team. Last season he gave up 14 runs off 19 hits in 10 innings.
Lee has excelled against the Cubs. The veteran is 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA in seven starts against Chicago. However, he was shaky some last season. He gave up three runs and nine hits along with three walks in five innings in an Aug. 31 loss.
Philadelphia got the win on Friday after Chicago's bats went cold. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, two of the Cubs' young stars are a combined 2 for 17 to start the season. The Cubs will rely on Wellington Castillo who has two hits and a home run off of Lee. He is batting .429 with nine RBI's in seven games against Philadelphia.