NEWSLETTER
Tonight, I’m heading to Wrigley Field with Brett. We’ll be somewhere in the outfield bleachers (because where else?) and I’ll be alternative between sips of beer and bitting my finger nails down to the bone.
Jose Quintana is starting for the Cubs tonight in what has to be one of the most important regular season games of the year. Tonight, the Cubs can give up sole possession of first place or they can increase their lead back to two games and drop their magic number down to 16. They can also head into tomorrow’s finale, then, with HALF as much pressure as they would have with a loss tonight and about a million times less pressure than the Brewers would have to win.
The good news, of course, is that Quintana has been very good in each of his last four starts (combined 2.38 ERA, 2.76 FIP in 22.2 IP) and has handled the Brewers very well this whole year. The bad news is one of his worst starts of the season (5.0 IP, 6H, 5ER, 1BB, 5Ks) came just before that stretch of four games … and it came against the Brewers. And here’s the thing: yes, Quintana has mostly kept the Brewers in check this season, how many times can one guy do that? Seriously, though. Quintana has faced the Brewers FIVE times this season, including in his very last start. At some point, they’ll just know what he’s got to offer and how he’ll attack each hitter. I just don’t really love it, to be honest.
At the same time … the Cubs just HAVE to be able to beat someone like Jhoulys Chacin. The 30-year-old pitcher may be having an adequate season in most respects(3.59 ERA, 3.96 FIP; 2.4 fWAR), but he’s just not the sort of pitcher you can let shut you down in a game like this in your home stadium. The Cubs need to win this game and they need to crush Chacin.
The last time I went to a Cubs game, it started at 7:05 and I was celebrating a Cole Hamels complete game with a beer at Sluggers by 9:30. Please let tonight be like that night. And please let that beer be a celebratory one. Go. Cubs.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (83-60) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (83-62) – Tuesday, September 11th at 7:05 CT on WGN, 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: Jose Quintana (L): 4.14 ERA, 4.52 FIP; 2.03 K/BB
versus
Brewers: Jhoulys Chacin (R): 3.59 ERA, 3.95 FIP; 2.26 K/BB
Milwaukee Brewers Lineup:
- Lorenzo Cain, CF
- Christian Yelich, RF
- Jesus Aguilar, 1B
- Ryan Braun, LF
- Jonathan Schoop, 2B
- Travis Shaw, 3B
- Erik Kratz, C
- Orlando Arcia, SS
- Jhoulys Chacin, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Kris Bryant, LF
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Javy Baez, SS
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Victor Caratini, C
- Jose Quintana, P
- Ian Happ, CF
