NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs look to bounce back today against the mighty first place Milwaukee Brewers. Friday’s game was an ugly one in so many respects, but an unscheduled off-day yesterday (rain) helped me forget.
Today’s installment features Jake Arrieta looking to pair on-field results with what his manager and catcher say they saw last time out (best he’s looked). For my part, I have seen Arrieta legitimately look good this year – much better than last year – and not get results. I have also, however, seen Arrieta leave pitches up – particularly early in his starts – and get punished for them.
On the other side of the bump, Chase Anderson is quietly a solid, if unspectacular, pitcher. The Cubs have had some trouble with him in the past, but he seems like a hittable guy: he invites fly ball contact, he doesn’t walk a minuscule amount, and he doesn’t get a ton of strikeouts. Where he’s succeeded most this year has been in limiting home runs to an extreme degree (3.8% HR/FB ratio), and prevailing wisdom says that simply cannot last for a fly ball pitcher.
Game Info
Milwaukee Brewers (25-18) at Chicago Cubs (21-20) – 1:20 CT on WGN, MLBN 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Jake Arrieta (R): 5.44 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 3.74 xFIP; 3.77 K/BB
versus
Brewers: Chase Anderson (R): 3.43 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 4.44 xFIP; 2.44 K/BB
Milwaukee Brewers Lineup:
- Jonathan Villar, 2B
- Eric Thames, 1B
- Ryan Braun, LF
- Travis Shaw, 3B
- Hernan Perez, RF
- Jett Bandy, C
- Keon Broxton, CF
- Orlando Arcia, SS
- Chase Anderson, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ian Happ, CF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Willson Contreras, C
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jake Arrieta, P
