This lengthy road series carries a ton of playoff implications along with it, but we’ve already discussed that to death. How about, until something changes, we just take this one game at time. Cool?
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Jake Arrieta has made two starts against the Brewers this season, and while both were quite good, they also both came at the beginning of the year:
April 9:Â 7.0 IP, 3H, 3ER, 2BB, 6K
May 21:Â 6.0 IP, 5H, 0ER, 1BB, 6K
Of course, Arrieta has been much better after the first month and half or so, so this is all fairly encouraging stuff. With that said, don’t expect too much in first start back from injury tonight. And remember, he’ll be on a 75-80 pitch count.
Zach Davies is starting opposite Arrieta tonight, and we discussed his traditional, but somewhat unusual, lefty/righty splits in the lineup post earlier today.
Interestingly, Davies has seen a whole of the Cubs this season, tonight marks start #5, and he’s gotten better and better in every single one:
April 9: 5IP, 7H, 5ER, 2BB, 6Ks
July 6:Â 6IP, 5H, 2ER, 0BB, 3Ks
July 30:Â 7.0 IP, 7H, 3ER, 0BB, 6Ks
September 10:Â 7.0 IP, 7H, 1ER, 1BB, 6Ks
Of course, traditionally, the more times a pitcher meets a lineup the more the odds shift into the batters’ favor. So hopefully, the Cubs come familiar, prepared, and ready to pounce early.
Game time is 7:10 CT. Let’s go Cubs.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (84-67) at Milwaukee Brewers (81-71)Â – 7:10 CT on CSN-C+, MLBN (out-of-market only), 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): 3.38 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 4.32 xFIP; 1.83 K/BB
versus
Brewers: Zach Davies (R): 3.89 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 4.34 xFIP; 2.37 K/BB
Milwaukee Brewers:
- Eric Sogard, SS
- Neil Walker, 2B
- Ryan Braun, LF
- Travis Shaw, 3B
- Domingo Santana, RF
- Eric Thames, 1B
- Stephen Vogt, C
- Brett Phillips, CF
- Zach Davies, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jon Jay, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Jake Arrieta, P