Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview, Monday 4/17, 7:05 CT

The Cubs' troubles so far can be summed up in these two sets of numbers:

• Cubs starters rank first in the N.L. with a 2.56 ERA. Cubs relievers rank ninth in the N.L. with a 4.19 ERA.
• Cubs hitters are 12th in the N.L. with runners on base (.211) and 10th in the N.L. with RISP (.227).

That pretty much tells the story. Not getting enough runners in (they also lead the league in LOB with 99), and allowing too many opposing runners to score late in games. Overall the Cubs are second in the league in fewest runs allowed (43), but rank 11th in runs scored (47).

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Schwarber LF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Montero C, Lackey P, Almora CF

Here is tonight's #Cubs lineup against the #Brewers.

Game preview: https://t.co/VoVeWMIujT pic.twitter.com/wgCIvyq83M

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 17, 2017

Brewers lineup:

Villar 2B, Thames 1B, Braun LF, Shaw 3B, Santana RF, Broxton CF, Bandy C, Arcia SS, Anderson P

John Lackey vs. Chase Anderson

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

John Lackey has thrown reasonably well in both his starts so far this year (that is, if you eliminate the first inning of the game against the Cardinals). Last year in three starts vs. the Brewers he threw 19 innings and allowed eight earned runs (3.79 ERA, 1.263 WHIP). Current Brewers are hitting .275 (22-for-80) against Lackey with three home runs (Orlando Arcia, Ryan Braun, Kirk Nieuwenhuis).

Chase Anderson no-hit the Cubs for eight innings May 17, 2016 at Miller Park, before Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant homered off him. Anderson has allowed just six hits in 13 innings so far this year in starts vs. teams with (supposedly) good offenses: Rockies and Blue Jays. Current Cubs are just 6-for-46 (.130) vs. Anderson, but three of those hits are homers (the two noted above, plus Albert Almora Jr.)

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

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The 2017 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2016. 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.

Get tickets to Cubs games from our partner Stubhub here.

Discuss amongst yourselves.