Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview, Monday 9/19, 7:05 CT: Avoiding History

by Al Yellon on Sep 19, 2011 5:00 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

A common sight this season: a grounds crew member tends to a wet Wrigley Field in between innings of the Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros game on Sunday in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

The Brewers' magic number to clinch the NL Central is four.

Thus it is possible for Milwaukee to accomplish this feat at Wrigley Field this week. Personally, I'd rather make them wait, especially because the Brewers are prone to having low-key celebrations like this one:

Anyway, here are some ways this can be accomplished.

The Cardinals play the Phillies tonight in Philadelphia and then play the Mets on Tuesday and Wednesday night at home. St. Louis also plays the Mets on Thursday, but we're only concerned here with what happens at Wrigley during the Brewers series. Also, the fact that the Cubs/Brewers game is a day game on Wednesday means that St. Louis will know what they have to do to stay alive before their game starts that evening.

Scenarios to avoid watching the Brewers celebrate at Wrigley:

If the Cubs get swept, the Cardinals must win all three games to avoid being eliminated. While the Brewers are a better team than the Cubs this year, the Cubs did win three of four from Milwaukee on their previous visit in June.

If the Cubs win one of the three games, the Cardinals must win two of their three.

If the Cubs win two of the three games, the Cardinals must win just one of their three.

And if the Cubs somehow sweep Milwaukee, the Cardinals would go into Thursday with a magic number in the division no less than one, no matter what they do. And, remember that the Cardinals trail the Braves in the wild card race by just 3.5 games and still have a shot at that playoff berth.

Cubs lineup:

Castro SS, Barney 2B, Ramirez 3B, Baker RF, Soriano LF, Byrd CF, Peña 1B, Soto C, Coleman P

I imagine there will be some comments about this lineup. However, keep in mind: there is a lefthander going, and this game actually does mean something to the Brewers.

Brewers lineup:

Hart RF, Morgan CF, Braun LF, Fielder 1B, Weeks 2B, McGehee 3B, Hairston SS, Lucroy C, Narveson P

Today's Starting Pitchers


Casey Coleman Cubs	vs.	Chris Narveson Brewers

2-8	W-L	10-7
7.06	ERA	4.40
60	SO	120
41	BB	57
8	HR	14
vs. Mil	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Casey Coleman	2-8	19	15	0	0	0	0	72.2	95	59	57	8	41	60	7.06	1.87

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Chris Narveson	10-7	28	26	0	0	0	0	151.1	151	75	74	14	57	120	4.40	1.37

This is about as big a pitching mismatch as you're going to see. Chris Narveson has made five career starts against the Cubs and won them all, with a 2.51 ERA and 33 strikeouts and just six walks in 28.2 innings. Somehow, though, several current Cubs have decent averages against him: Geovany Soto (5-for-16, .313), Jeff Baker (5-for-13, .385, one HR) and Starlin Castro (4-for-11, .364). So maybe there's hope.

Casey Coleman has three career starts vs. Milwaukee, two decent (including one on August 28 in Milwaukee, even though the Cubs lost) and one bad. Keep him away from these two, though: Ryan Braun (7-for-10, two doubles, one HR) and Corey Hart (5-for-7, one HR).

Today's game is on CSN Chicago and FSN Wisconsin. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. As always, be careful over there.

Today's first pitch thread will be up at 7:05 p.m. CDT and the overflow threads will post at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

I hope we get No-Hit.....

The Vet lineup is stupid…..

by TJ11 on Sep 19, 2011 5:07 PM CDT reply actions

Again, I hope they manage to keep the no no-hit streak alive.

But this lineup lends itself to be blown out 46-0.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll never root for the cubs to get no hit...

one hit. pinch hit by Lahair. maybe pull a “for love of the game” and bunt a single.

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Sep 19, 2011 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactamundo

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope it does....The only ones I care about getting hits are Castro and barney

by TJ11 on Sep 19, 2011 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I must admit

That Brewers celebration is pretty fun.

by Arbusto on Sep 19, 2011 5:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Yep

That’s good stuff.

WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station

by Gibbon Jockey on Sep 19, 2011 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I dislike the Brewers more than any rival. Cub players know the score.

They will battle to keep Brewers from celebrating here. I might even watch this series.

by Rick B on Sep 19, 2011 5:12 PM CDT reply actions

I dislike the Brewers less than any rival.

If that makes any sense. I think it depends where you live. In my neck of the woods it’s mainly a White Sox rivalry thing. I remember way back to when we used to root for the Brewers because they were playing against the Sox, so I can’t bring myself to totally hate them. Although if I get stuck seeing them celebrate at Wrigley tomorrow night that sentiment may change really quick.

Football? Football? What's a football?-Ralphie Parker

by katie casey on Sep 19, 2011 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

More than the Cardinals??

I could never go that far.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.

by mrcubsfan on Sep 19, 2011 5:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I don't believe in manufactured rivalries.

WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station

by Gibbon Jockey on Sep 19, 2011 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I usually dislike whoever is better than the Cubs.

So I dislike pretty much everybody now.

Seeya Jimbo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Sep 19, 2011 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Mike Quade is bad at his job.

Seeya Jimbo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Sep 19, 2011 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

When we choose to start Coleman

and Baker and Byrd and Pena, my only wish is that it’s a Farewell tour making it’s last appearance.

If it wasn't for the injuries, we'd be printing WS tickets right now.

by tharr on Sep 19, 2011 5:19 PM CDT reply actions

Not to knock what you are saying, but Baker against a LHP is not a bad thing. On Pena/Byrd, you have a point though.

by ubercubsfan on Sep 19, 2011 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Well?

Is anybody gonna comment?

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 5:35 PM CDT reply actions

Is that Ricketts?

by TJ11 on Sep 19, 2011 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions

This guy has character and ambition.

Albeit, for cookies, but ambition nonetheless.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Cubs call up Steve Clevenger

Sullivan tweets:
PWSullivan Paul Sullivan
Cubs call up catcher Steve Clevenger to sit on bench and watch for final 9 games. Soto hitting .122 in September, Hill at .111.

by BVictor on Sep 19, 2011 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

The more I stumble on Sullivan's stupidity, the more I'm convinced that he is Blue Mike.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

usual stupidity maybe. but he's dead on there...

So i you can give you can take it.

by epsilon on Sep 19, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

He is exactly right......He will be lucky to get one start....And you know Hill will start again.

by TJ11 on Sep 19, 2011 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Sadly, I believe Quade will continue to play Pena in hopes that he hits 30HRs.

I can’t think of any reason other than that.

by ubercubsfan on Sep 19, 2011 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

......

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

That appears to be his MO

Seeya Jimbo! Good job, Tommy Boy!

by shoemile on Sep 19, 2011 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Sadly, another season down the drain!

by Saratoga on Sep 19, 2011 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

To be fair, that happened in May.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions

you know your team sucks when Untouchable is batting 4th

I'm a happy panda.

by jesus christos on Sep 19, 2011 5:45 PM CDT reply actions

Look, what do you want me to do?

There’s a Lefty on the mound.

WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station

by Gibbon Jockey on Sep 19, 2011 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Jeff "Untouchable" Baker!

by ubercubsfan on Sep 19, 2011 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Untouchable has become

invisible the 2nd half. His .207 BA apparently has escaped Quade’s notice. All I can suggest as to his continued starts is that MQ is trying to salt the league with veterans who think kindly of him when they move to other systems.

If it wasn't for the injuries, we'd be printing WS tickets right now.

by tharr on Sep 19, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Who of the vets has a MLB career after their Cubs contract is done?

Pena. Marshall for sure. Garza probably. Soto could be a good spare part for a good team. Marmol may get another look by a different organization. But that’s about it. The rest are done.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on Sep 19, 2011 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions

If the Cubs do get swept

and the Cards win their first two games it doesn’t really matter what happens on Wednesday right? b/c the Cubs could lose Wednesday but the Brewers wouldn’t make it into the playoffs until the Cards lost that night. Right?

by mike_thoms on Sep 19, 2011 5:56 PM CDT reply actions

That sound you hear

is thousands of Red Sox fans leaping to their deaths.

by Josh Timmers on Sep 19, 2011 6:23 PM CDT reply actions

and that other sound you hear is theo epstein packing his bags for chicago

I'm a happy panda.

by jesus christos on Sep 19, 2011 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Epstein's not going anywhere

He’s under contract for next season and while Red Sox fans may be panicking, John Henry isn’t.

by Josh Timmers on Sep 19, 2011 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd rather have the brewers clinch here.

This team has looked unmotivated for far too long. Maybe the slap in the face that a clinching game would give them might wake somebody up. Maybe it motivates the players to want that for themselves next year. What’s the point of them stepping up for a 3 game series to just play spoiler? So they are motivated now, but not for the first 145 or so games? Besides, I’d rather the Brewers made the playoffs instead of the Cardinals.

by Bled Dry on Sep 19, 2011 6:26 PM CDT reply actions

I agree, I hope the Cubs have to watch it.....

The fans will be pissed too……They deserve to be mad…

I bet Ricketts isnt walking around the park when that happens…

by TJ11 on Sep 19, 2011 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions

It is NEVER good to have another team clinch in your home park.

NEVER! NEVER!! NEVER!!! No how! No way!

Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living. ~Alvin Dark

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by CubSteve on Sep 19, 2011 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think that's correct.

I believe they are playing .500 ball since the all star break. I expected them to be a .500 team. So they have been playing up to their talent for half a season.

by Rick B on Sep 19, 2011 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Soto

Cubs Win! Cubs win! Only because of Soto. 4th place here we come! LOL!

We'll win... Someday!

by karlitodj79 on Sep 19, 2011 11:25 PM CDT via iPhone app reply actions

Cards

I just hope we don’t have to watch the Cards celebrate a wild card spot when we are there. After last nights games Brewers cannot clinch against us.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on Sep 20, 2011 7:33 AM CDT reply actions

Not likely.

The Cardinals are still 3.5 games behind the Braves. St. Louis would have to win six in a row and Atlanta would have to lose six in a row for the Cardinals to do that — and even then, the Giants might still be involved.

Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation

by Al Yellon on Sep 20, 2011 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions