Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Saturday 9/12, 6:10 CT

Saturday notes:

• CLOSE CALLS: The last five games between the Cubs and Brewers have been decided by two or fewer runs. In the first eight games between these clubs this year, the Cubs are 3-5 yet have outscored the Brewers, 32-28.
• THE PROFESSOR: Kyle Hendricks this season has allowed just six walks in 58 innings, and his 0.93 walks per nine innings leads the NL and is second in the majors behind Seattle’s Marco Gonzales (0.71). More on Hendricks below.
• THROW ‘EM OUT: Willson Contreras has thrown out six baserunners attempting to steal, third-most in the majors and surpassed only by Roberto Perez (seven) and Christian Vazquez (seven).
• RELEASE THE KRAKEN: Including last night’s appearance, Craig Kimbrel has recorded two or more strikeouts in each of his last 10 appearances since August 14. That’s the longest single-season streak by a Cubs reliever since at least 1901, surpassing Lee Smith who struck out two or more in eight-straight outings from August 20-September 10, 1983.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Brewers lineup:

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Brett Anderson, LHP

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

I wrote this article recently about how bad Kyle Hendricks is in road games, but much of that road badness is in Cincinnati. Lifetime in Miller Park (11 starts, 60⅔ innings) Kyle has good numbers: 2.97 ERA and 1.187 WHIP, and of course he threw a complete-game three-hit shutout against the Brewers on Opening Day this year, July 24 at Wrigley Field.

Kyle had some shaky outings after that, but seems to have righted the ship in his last two: 14 innings, 1.29 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, just two walks. Keep up the good work, Kyle.

Brett Anderson didn’t get out of the fifth inning against the Cubs August 13 at Wrigley Field, and Kyle Schwarber homered off him.

Anderson’s last two starts have been pretty bad: 10 innings, 7.20 ERA, 1.700 WHIP, losses to the Pirates and Indians.

The Cubs have generally not hit lefthanders well this year, batting .203/.319/.317 (76-for-375) with just eight home runs and 112 strikeouts. But maybe they can make an exception tonight.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here is a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

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The 2020 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week/Date) game threads.” It will contain every thread related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

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.