Cubs brace for stretch without Soriano
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AP Photo/Jerry Lai
Ryan Dempster and the Cubs will need to make up for the absence of Alfonso Soriano.
TIME TO HELP OUT
By Mark Simon, ESPN Research
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The first time the Cubs lost Alfonso Soriano to the disabled list this year they survived without issue, averaging better than seven runs per game and winning nine of 14.
This time, they'll be without him a little longer after he suffered a broken left hand in Wednesday's win against Atlanta at Wrigley Field. Soriano could be out of action for up to six weeks. The Cubs have been one of the best offensive teams in baseball this season, and they have other producers in the lineup. They will need to pick up the slack -- and stay healthy -- with Soriano out.| Cubs during Soriano's DL stint | |
| W-L | 9-5 |
| Batting average | .312 |
| Runs per game | 7.4 |
| Left fielder's batting average | .231 |
| HR | 0 |
FORWARD THINKING: THURSDAY
• Diamondbacks at Mets, 1:10 p.m. ET: Dan Haren (6-4, 3.44 ERA) has struggled on the road this season. His ERA is nearly double on the road (4.94) than what it is at home (2.56). Johan Santana (7-4, 3.08 ERA) had little trouble with the D-backs earlier this season, allowing just one run over six innings in a win.
• Phillies at Marlins, 7:10 p.m. ET: Nobody is better against the Marlins than Jamie Moyer (6-3, 4.56 ERA). He is a perfect 8-for-8 against them -- eight starts, eight wins. Scott Olsen (4-2, 3.44 ERA) has not won since May 6 and has not gone deeper than six innings in any start since, a stretch of six outings.
• Yankees at A's, 10:05 p.m. ET: Andy Pettitte (5-5, 4.99 ERA) has given up 10 hits in each of his past two outings, though he got away with no decisions in both. Joe Blanton (3-8, 4.15 ERA), who is 1-4 over his previous seven starts, has given up at least one homer in each of his past five starts.
• Complete list of pitching probables for Thursday's games
BBTN ON THE AIR: THURSDAY
| TIME | WHO'S ON? |
| 10 p.m. ET ESPN2 |
Host: Scott Reiss
Analysts: Buster Olney, Fernando Vina, Chris Singleton |
| 1:30 a.m. ET ESPN |
Host: Scott Reiss
Analysts: Buster Olney, Fernando Vina, Chris Singleton |
BBTN MINUTE: SORIANO, PUJOLS OUT
WEDNESDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES
| GOOD |
 • Dan Uggla put the Phillies away in style, hitting a game-ending grand slam in the ninth inning off Philadelphia reliever Tom Gordon in a 6-2 win. |
BAD |
 • Vernon Wells struck out with runners on in each of his final three at-bats -- twice with runners in scoring position -- to finish his 0-for-4 day. |
UGLY |
 • Johnny Cueto had not issued more than three walks in any of his major league starts. He topped that against St. Louis by handing out eight in five innings.
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FANTASY: PREVIEW OF THURSDAY'S GAMES
Will Harris examines the pitching matchups in store for the 13 games on Thursday's schedule in the American League and National League.
Harris also looks at injuries and details player reports that could help shape your roster for Thursday's games. Daily Notes
NEWS AND NOTES
• A day after pitching, Rays starter James Shields officially dropped the appeal of the six-game suspension he was handed after hitting Boston's Coco Crisp with a pitch June 5.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka, out with right shoulder tendinitis, threw about 50 pitches in a bullpen session. He is scheduled to have another bullpen session Friday.
• Mark Mulder, recovering from shoulder surgery, will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Springfield. Mulder, who has not pitched this season, made just three starts last year and 17 in 2006.
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