The Chicago Cubs just took two out of three from the Pirates and will continue on with the NL Central tonight at Miller Park.
Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the Cubs, and he has looked pretty good in his last couple starts. Hopefully, he’ll keep that up tonight against a Brewers lineup with a sneaky amount of pop.
Speaking of that pop in the heart of the Brewers lineup, Ryan Braun is back and in the lineup tonight, after previously being day-to-day with a wrist injury. It’s not quite clear how serious it was, but as we’ve seen with Jason Heyward (to at least some extent), wrist injuries may artificially limit your power, even if everything else (contact, patience, a good eye) is working. I just all but guaranteed Braun hits a home run, didn’t I?
Miguel Montero is back in the lineup for his second game since returning from the disabled list, and he takes his place at the bottom of the Cubs lineup just ahead of Kyle Hendricks. Although Montero has been a pretty great hitter in his career, I think eighth might make the most sense given the way Javy Baez and Addison Russell have been swinging the bat lately (not to mention, Montero is likely still going to be finding himself at the plate after missing time).
Opposing Hendricks is right hander Chase Anderson. Anderson, 28, really only began starting with any sort of consistency in 2014, and hasn’t done much with his opportunity since. This season, he has a 6.11 ERA, which is largely supported by his peripherals (5.98 FIP). With just a 16.8% strikeout rate on the season – which would be tied for 20th worst, if he qualified – the Cubs should be putting the ball in play quite a bit. Anderson has given up a heck of a lot of home runs lately, too, so if they can get the ball in the air, that would be even better.
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Game Info
Chicago Cubs (27-9) at Milwaukee Brewers (16-22), 7:10 CT on CSN, 670 The Score.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down there in the comments, so have fun. But keep it “safe for work” type fun, all right?
The Series Preview lives here. The Lineup Discussion lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (R): 3.03 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 2.95 xFIP; 4.43 K/BB
versus
Brewers: Chase Anderson: (R): 6.11 ERA, 5.98 FIP, 4.68 xFIP; 2.08 K/BB
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Milwaukee Brewers Lineup
1. Jonathan Villar, SS
2. Scooter Gennett, 2B
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Jonathan Lucroy, C
5. Chris Carter, 1B
6. Domingo Santana, RF
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF
8. Aaron Hill, 3B
9. Chase Anderson, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Kris Bryant, LF
4. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
5. Ben Zobrist, 2B
6. Addison Russell, SS
7. Javy Baez, 3B
8. Miguel Montero, C
9. Kyle Hendricks, P