On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Brewers series preview

The 2021 schedule begins weirdly for the Cubs. The first 12 games are all against either the Pirates or Brewers. Then, the Cubs will see the Brewers again in the next homestand, meaning nine of the Cubs’ first 21 games will be against Milwaukee. After that they won’t face their rivals from up I-94 until the end of June.

Thanks, schedule-makers.

The Brewers come into this series possibly missing three of their starting players. Kolten Wong suffered an oblique strain Thursday in St. Louis. He’s on the 10-day injured list, and Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw both left Sunday’s game with injuries:

Yelich left the game with lower back soreness in the second inning, while Shaw departed in the fifth, an inning after he fouled a pitch off his right shin and ankle. Both were deemed day to day.

“We’ll see how they’re doing [Monday],” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’re not ruling them out, we’ll just see how they’re doing when they get to the field.”

You never like seeing any player get injured, but if these players miss time in this series, that could be to the Cubs’ advantage.

Fun fact

Or maybe not so fun.

While the Cubs were losing two of three in Pittsburgh, the Brewers took two of three from the Cardinals in St. Louis and outscored the Cards 19-11.

Pitching matchups

Monday: Adbert Alzolay, RHP (0-1, 7.20 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 7.97 FIP) vs. Freddy Peralta, RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.429 WHIP, 2.17 FIP)

Tuesday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (0-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, 3.72 FIP) vs. Brandon Woodruff, RHP (0-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.818 WHIP, 1.35 FIP)

Wednesday: Jake Arrieta, RHP (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.417 WHIP, 2.67 FIP) vs. Corbin Burnes, RHP (0-1, 0.73 ERA, 0.162 WHIP, 1.46 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Monday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, FS1 (no blackouts)

Tuesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Wednesday: 12:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Brewers market territories)

Prediction

Yikes. I keep picking two of three and ... well, I’m doing it again, because I like these pitching matchups from a Cubs standpoint.

Up next

The Cubs have Thursday off, then host the Braves in a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.