Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview, Tuesday 8/16 Game 1, 12:20 CT

Funny thing: If the Cubs had scheduled the makeup date for the April 27 rainout for a night game on Monday's off day, they probably would have been postponed again, as it rained on the North Side of Chicago most of the evening. The forecast for Tuesday is better, with skies clearing by game time and pleasant temperatures near 80.

A few logistics for today's game threads, in addition to the usual notes below.

There will be a separate game stream for both games. The first preview, the one you're reading, went up a bit earlier than usual (10 a.m. CT). I intend to write a recap of Game 1 after it ends, posted as usual on the front page.

Then there will be a preview for Game 2 posting at 6 p.m. CT -- later than usual, but you'll have a recap thread for game discussion. The stream for Game 2 will have the usual threads attached to it at the usual times, assuming Game 2 starts on time at 7:05 p.m. CT. If it doesn't for any reason, I'll adjust those times.

Now, onward for game info.

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Here are today's particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Fowler CF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Russell SS, Coghlan LF, Heyward RF, Montero C, Cahill P

Brewers lineup:

Villar 3B, Arcia SS, Gennett 2B, Carter 1B, Perez RF, Nieuwenhuis LF, Broxton CF, Pina C, Garza P

Trevor Cahill has 173 major-league starts, but none since three disastrous ones (8.03 combined ERA) for the Braves at the beginning of 2015. This year he's been mostly effective for the Cubs, but is coming off a DL stint for a knee problem. He didn't pitch particularly well in his rehab assignment, but results from that are less meaningful than just getting in the work. He has three relief appearances vs. the Brewers this year covering 5⅓ innings, with just two hits allowed and no runs. He has issued five walks in those games, and that's been his biggest downfall. If he can keep his control working, this game could work out just fine. I'd expect him to throw no more than 75-80 pitches and then have Mike Montgomery come in.

Our old pal Matt Garza has made 11 starts since returning from the DL in mid-June and frankly, he hasn't really been any good. His two August starts are a bit better than the other nine (two earned runs in each in six innings or more), but Garza appears to be reaching the end of the line. He's under contract to the Brewers through 2017 and you can well imagine they'd like to shed that deal in the offseason. He did pitch well in four starts vs. the Cubs last year (2.70 ERA, his best against any team he started against more than once). Current Cubs are hitting .277 (31-for-112) against Garza with six home runs, two by Jason Heyward.

Today's game is on WGN. For affiliate information in the Illinois/Indiana/Iowa Cubs TV market click here.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

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The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap 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 the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.