Cubs vs. Brewers: Series Thread (Games 134-136)
The Cubs greet the Brewers to Wrigley for a three game set. This series plus the 4-game set next weekend looked at one time like they would be a fight for the division lead, but with the Cubs on the heels of the first-place Cardinals they'll be looking to toss the Brewers clear out of the ring, narrowing the Royal Rumble that was the tight NL Central to a 1-on-1 grapple. The Brewers meanwhile will cling tightly to both their place in the division and their dwindling Wild Card aspirations. Read below to see which competitors will be starting in the series.
Game 134, Friday, August 30, 1:20pmCDT
CHC: LHP José Quintana (11-8, 4.05 ERA)
MIL: RHP Chase Anderson (6-3, 4.34 ERA)
Quintana's last start against the Nats was shortened to only 4 innings in which he allowed five runs, four earned, on three walks and seven hits. He's 1-2 in four starts against Milwaukee this year. Ryan Braun is 11-42 with five homeruns off of him. Moustakas and Cain saw a bunch of him in the AL but haven't put up any remarkable numbers one way or the other.
Following a 10-run, 2.1 inning start against the Nats, Anderson recovered with five scoreless against the D-Backs. He has a win in relief and a no-decision in one start against the Cubs this year. Zobrist is 9-22 with three homeruns off of him--probably not enough to motivate an early roster move? K.B. is 7-26 with three homeruns. Javy is 1-17 with six strikeouts. Rizzo is a mere 2-23.
Game 135, Saturday, August 31, 1:20pmCDT
CHC: LHP Cole Hamels (7-4, 3.73 ERA)
MIL: RHP Zach Davies (8-7, 3.90 ERA)
Hamels was handed a no-decision against the Nats after five innings and two earned runs allowed. He's 1-0 in three starts against the Brewers this year. Hernan Perez is 8-16 off of him.
Davies has dropped five straight, allowing 23 earned runs on nine walks and 27 hits (8 homeruns) in 22 innings. Two of thos were back-to-back losses to our Cubs, making him 1-2 in four starts against Chicago this year. Kyle Schwarber is 5-26 with four homeruns and seven strikeouts off of him.
Game 136, Sunday, September 1,
CHC: RHP Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.25 ERA) Tyler Chatwood
MIL: LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 4.34 ERA)
Darvish followed a frustrating 4 homerun, zero walk, eight strikout outing by holding the Mets to one earned run in eight outings. The key to his game remains keeping opponents in the yard, as he leads the NL with 31 homeruns allowed. Yelich is 3-10 with two homeruns off of him.
Edit: Darvish is a late scratch with a forearm strain (yikes) and Tyler Chatwood starts in his place. Chatwood last started on July 24and provided four innings of one-run ball against the Giants. He's had a few multi-innning relief appearances since then as well. Travis Shaw and Yasmani Grandal have crushed him in 26 at bats, and Yelich is 4-10 with two walks.
Gio Gonzalez lost to the Cards last time out, allowing nine runs, seven earned, on four walks and nine hits in five innings. He's 1-0 in three starts against the Cubs. Jonathan Lucroy is 8-13 off of him. Bryant, Rizzo, and Javy are collectively 7-59 with one homerun and 18 strikeouts off of him.
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