On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Brewers series preview

So this happened to both the Cubs and Brewers Sunday evening:

The Cubs and Brewers got a head start on all those road-trippers Sunday night. Both the Cubs’ flight from Philadelphia and the Brewers flight from Washington were diverted to O’Hare Airport because of a line of thunderstorms in southern Wisconsin on Sunday evening. The teams separately chartered buses to take them on the 90-minute trip from O’Hare to Milwaukee, where they’ll play the series opener on Monday at 1:10 p.m.

Just as they did in 2017, the Cubs allowed the Brewers to take a lead in the N.L. Central, then overtook them with a second-half run. The Cubs lost to the Reds Friday, July 6 and were 2½ games behind the Brewers, who were in first place at the time. Since that date the Cubs are 32-19, the best record in the National League, and the Brewers are 24-26.

The Brewers and Cardinals currently hold the two wild-card spots in the National League. If current standings hold up, the Cubs, with the best record in the league, would play the winner of that game in the division series. It would be fun to watch one of those teams lose that game and be eliminated, and then (hopefully) the Cubs eliminate the other one.

There’s business to take care of first, of course. The Brewers interrupted their pursuit of seemingly every infielder on the trade market to acquire a starting pitcher, Gio Gonzalez. Then they put Gonzalez in the bullpen, for the time being, at least.

So my reaction to the Brewers right now is: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

NOTE: The game preview for Monday’s game will post at 11:30 a.m. CT.

Fun fact

The Brewers are 27-31 against N.L. Central teams (4-9 vs. the Cubs), and 23-31 in day games (54-30 in night games).

Pitching matchups

Monday: Cole Hamels, LHP (4-0, 0.69 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 2.28 FIP) vs. Zach Davies, RHP (2-5, 5.23 ERA, 1.442 WHIP, 5.29 FIP)

Tuesday: Mike Montgomery, LHP (4-4, 3.82 ERA, 1.370 WHIP, 3.87 FIP) vs. Wade Miley, LHP (2-2, 2.18 ERA, 1.249 WHIP, 3.72 FIP)

Wednesday: Jose Quintana, LHP (11-9, 4.21 ERA, 1.355 WHIP, 4.59 FIP) vs. Jhoulys Chacin, RHP (14-5, 3.53 ERA, 1.206 WHIP, 3.94 FIP)

NOTE: Hamels’ numbers above are with the Cubs only. With the Rangers: 20 starts, 5-9, 4.72 ERA, 1.373 WHIP, 5.19 FIP

Times & TV channels

Monday: 1:10 p.m. CT, WGN

Tuesday: 7:10 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago

Wednesday: 7:10 p.m. CT, WGN

Prediction

The Cubs have played the Brewers well this year, and the pitching matchups seem favorable, especially with the Brewers 16-17 against lefthanded starters this year. Two of three.

Up next

The Cubs travel to Washington for a four-game series against the Nationals beginning Thursday evening.