Cubs vs. Brewers Preview, Saturday 5/17, 1:20 CT

35 years ago today, on a windy, warm afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Phillies beat the Cubs 23-22, the second-highest combined run total in major-league history.

I wasn't at this game -- I worked a regular day job at the time -- but following it after work was fun, and it went long after normal work hours, with 50 hits and 15 walks. At that time, Cubs weekday games started at 1:35 p.m., so the 4:03 game time had it ending at nearly 5:40. The Cubs trailed 7-0, 15-6 and 21-9 before tying the game 22-22 in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run rally. Had they won the game, they'd have tied the major-league record (which still stands) for biggest comeback (12 runs).

Instead, Cub-killer Mike Schmidt won it with a solo homer off Bruce Sutter with two out in the top of the 10th.

Those were fun times, despite the losses. It won't be nearly as warm this afternoon, but perhaps the Cubs could entertain us with a game like this one.

Cubs lineup:

Bonifacio CF, Coghlan LF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Schierholtz RF, Castillo C, Olt 3B, Barney 2B, Jackson P

"Insert random left fielder into No. 2 spot in order."

The Brewers lineup was not available at the time I wrote this post. Please check the BCB Twitter feed for the Brewers lineup.

Today's Starting Pitchers

Edwin Jackson Cubs vs. Matt Garza Brewers vs. Mil -- vs. Cubs

Edwin Jackson's last two starts have been decent -- both quality starts -- and they have lowered his season ERA to 4.56, which is in the "normal" range for him. Keep this up and maybe the Cubs can even shed his contract. He has not faced the Brewers this year; overall current Brewers are 47-for-175 (.269) against him with six home runs, two by Jonathan Lucroy.

Matt Garza threw seven good innings against the Cubs April 25 at Miller Park. But will his return to Wrigley give him the fielding yips again? Will he fall down trying to field one of the bunts I hope the Cubs make against him? Will he throw a ball into the 10th row of the seats behind first base? We can only hope.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago.

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. The usual caution is advised.

For 2014, we are going to have the same game-thread routine as 2013. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.

You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.