Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Sunday 7/30, 1:10 CT

Cubs pitching has been outstanding since the All-Star break:

• Cubs starting pitchers have posted a 2.50 ERA while going 10-1 with a .196 opposing batting average and a stellar 0.92 WHIP in the 15 games since the break. The 2.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP lead all major league starting rotations (the Nationals are second with a 2.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP), while the .196 average is second behind Washington (.194).
• In the Cubs’ last eight games, the pitching staff has allowed just one hit in 39 at-bats with RISP (.026) and none to a position player, as that hit came in the second inning on July 25 when White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon delivered a two-run double. Cubs pitching has held the Brewers hitless in 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position in the first two games of this series.

And then there’s this:

Davis’ 21 consecutive saves are a Cubs franchise record for a single season. The team record over multiple years is 26, set by Ryan Dempster in 2005-06.

Keep up this great work.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Zobrist 2B, Jay LF, Bryant 3B, Contreras C, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Almora CF, Caratini 1B, Lackey P

In case you were wondering:

With the day off Monday and Tuesday’s game at night, that gives Rizzo more than two full days off to rest his back.

Brewers lineup:

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

John Lackey vs. Zach Davies

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

John Lackey wasn’t great in his last start, but he was good enough to win, even with all the hit batters. Lackey has gone at least five innings in all 19 of his starts this year, and six or more in 11 of them. This month he has a 3.38 ERA and 1.250 WHIP and just one home run allowed in 16 innings. The latter is good news, as he leads the N.L. in HR given up with 25.

Lackey started against the Brewers April 17 at Wrigley Field and the result was typical Lackey: six innings, four runs. All four of the runs scored on homers, so perhaps keeping the ball in the yard would be a good idea this afternoon.

How often do you think Zach Davies gets carded? Between him and Brewers manager Craig Counsell, they have cornered the market on adult men who look like teenagers.

Davies’ last two outings have been very good: 14⅔ innings, no earned runs (one unearned run), 11 strikeouts. He has made two starts against the Cubs this year and allowed seven earned runs in 11 innings, so that’s a good sign, I’d think. Among the runs off him were homers by Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago. It’s also on TBS (no blackouts).

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.