Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Friday 7/28, 7:10 CT

The Cubs can accomplish something this weekend better than anything they did in July in either 2015 or 2016.

They are 14-7 so far this July. In July 2015 they were 15-12, and in July 2016 12-14, the only losing calendar month for the 103-win ballclub last year.

So sweeping this series would make them 17-7 in July, and even winning two of three would leave them with a fine 16-8 mark this month.

And remember, both the 2015 and 2016 Cubs had their best month of the season in August — 19-9 in 2015 and 22-6 in 2016. This team does appear, at last, to be hitting on all cylinders. The best could very well be yet to come.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Jay LF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Contreras C, Heyward RF, Almora CF, Russell SS, Baez 2B, Quintana P

Brewers lineup:

Santana RF, Braun LF, Shaw 3B, Aguilar 1B, Perez 2B, Pina C, Brinson CF, Arcia SS, Suter P

Jose Quintana vs. Brent Suter

Joe Camporeale-USA Today Sports

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Quintana has pitched very well in his first two starts for the Cubs. Perhaps more importantly, the Brewers haven’t seen much of him. The last time he faced Milwaukee was more than two years ago, May 13, 2015 at Miller Park. Most of the Brewers in that lineup aren’t on the team anymore, and current Brewers are a small-sample-size 7-for-30 (.233) against Jose.

Let’s hope that gives the Cubs a pitching advantage.

Brent Suter took over Chase Anderson’s spot in the Brewers rotation when Anderson was injured and has done quite well: four starts this month, 1.96 ERA, 1.087 WHIP, just one home run in 23 innings.

On the other hand, there’s the outing he had April 8 against the Cubs: one inning, four hits, four earned runs. So they have had some success against Suter. Hopefully, it continues tonight.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Milwaukee markets).

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.

Discuss amongst yourselves.