On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Brewers Series Preview

The Milwaukee Brewers have been off to a very good start. However, they appear to be fattening up on bad teams: 6-1 over the Reds, 3-0 against the Mets, 2-0 over the Blue Jays and 2-1 against the Padres. That’s 13-2 against those four teams and 10-14 against everyone else. After his hot April start, Eric Thames is hitting .256/.373/.465 in May, which is good but not anywhere close to what he did in April. That might be closer to his real level of talent.

Point is, the Brewers have looked good so far, but it might be a mirage. They do have some talent, but they are probably a year or two away from real contention. The Cubs are on a mini-roll after winning three straight, so hopefully they can put the Brewers in second (or third) place after this series.

Fun fact

The Brewers are 24-18 and are in first place coming into this series. It’s the first time they have been in first place this late in the year since 2014, when they held first in the N.L. Central all year before a 9-17 September left them in third place.

Pitching matchups

Friday: Eddie Butler (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.833 WHIP, 2.87 FIP vs. Paolo Espino (making his major-league debut)

Saturday: Jake Arrieta (4-3, 5.71 ERA, 1.455 WHIP, 4.18 FIP) vs. Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.43 ERA, 1.366 WHIP, 3.02 FIP)

Sunday: John Lackey (4-3, 4.37 ERA, 1.352 WHIP, 4.60 FIP) vs. Jimmy Nelson (2-2, 3.86 ERA, 1.353 WHIP, 3.74 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago, MLB Network (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago, MLB Network (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago, MLB Network (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Prediction

Unlike the just-completed series against the Reds where temperatures were warm and the wind was blowing out, this series will be played in cooler weather with possible rain interruptions. How that will affect the Cubs is anyone’s guess, but the Brewers just came from playing two series at home and then one in San Diego, so cold weather isn’t likely going to be to their liking. The Cubs have won four of six from Milwaukee already this year and I don’t see any reason they shouldn’t take two of three.

Up next

The San Francisco Giants come to Wrigley for a four-game series beginning Monday night.