On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Brewers series preview

This series has had two games rescheduled for national TV purposes. Friday’s game, originally a 7:10 p.m. CT start, was moved back 35 minutes to 6:35 at ESPN’s request. Saturday was originally a 6:10 p.m. CT start, was moved to 12:05 when Fox-TV wanted to televise it.

As of this writing I have heard no complaints from the Brewers about these schedule changes. And quite honestly: I do not want to hear another complaint from the Brewers about schedule changes, now or ever.

This Tribune article talks about the Brewers and Cubs and how this rivalry seems a bit one-sided. Included is this quote from Kyle Lesniewski, managing editor of our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball:

Kyle Lesniewski, managing editor of Brew Crew Ball, an SB Nation blog, said Brewers fans see the Cubs as their biggest rival but the feeling isn't mutual. Because of that, Lesniewski said it almost feels like Brewers fans suffer from "a little brother complex" with the team being comparably new to the National League and Cubs fans not sharing Brewers' fans feelings.

"Having this team you really hate ... but you're not even their No. 1 rival," Lesniewski said. "There is definitely a lot of bad sort of feeling around the way we feel about the Cubs as Brewers fans."

This feeling is almost certainly true. As the article points out, the Cubs and Cardinals have been rivals for far longer than the Cubs have been playing the Brewers and I’d say most Cubs fans feel the Cardinals are the Cubs’ biggest rival.

Fun fact

There is just one player on either team’s active roster who has played for the other. That’s Quintin Berry, currently a member of the Brewers, who played in eight games for the 2015 Cubs. His only claim to fame during that stint was being caught stealing, the first time he’d been caught in 31 career stolen-base attempts (including postseason games).

Another fun fact

Jose Quintana is one of seven pitchers to make 30 or more starts each of the last five seasons. Jeff Samardzija, Jon Lester, Wade Miley, Julio Teheran, Chris Archer and Mike Leake are the others. Ian Kennedy will qualify with two more starts this year and Max Scherzer will qualify with one more.

Pitching matchups

Thursday: Jake Arrieta, RHP (14-9, 3.48 ERA, 1.198 WHIP, 4.00 FIP) vs. Zach Davies, RHP (17-9, 3.89 ERA, 1.342 WHIP, 4.09 FIP)

Friday: John Lackey, RHP (11-11, 4.62 ERA, 1.278 WHIP, 5.27 FIP) vs. Brandon Woodruff, RHP (2-2, 3.28 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, 3.69 FIP)

Saturday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (7-5, 3.22 ERA, 1.181 WHIP, 4.13 FIP) vs. Brent Suter, LHP (3-2, 3.41 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, 3.77 FIP)

Sunday: Jose Quintana, LHP (10-11, 4.27 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 3.87 FIP) vs. Chase Anderson, RHP (11-3, 2.74 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 3.58 FIP)

• Jose Quintana’s numbers above include his 18 starts with the White Sox. With the Cubs: 12 starts, 6-3, 3.95 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, 3.65 FIP

Times & TV channels

Thursday: 7:10 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago Plus, MLB Network (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Friday: 6:35 p.m. CT, WGN, ESPN (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Saturday: 12:05 p.m. CT, Fox-TV (regional — coverage map)

Sunday: 1:10 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago, TBS (outside Chicago and Milwaukee markets)

Prediction

With Jake Arrieta returning to action, the Cubs have pretty good pitching matchups in all four of these games. It won’t be easy, but I say they’ll take three of four.

Up next

The Cubs travel to St. Louis for a four-game series against the Cardinals beginning Monday evening.