Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Saturday 4/24, 1:20 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Saturday notes:

• HITTING ‘EM HARD: In Friday’s game, Cubs hitters had 17 batted balls with exit velocities of 102 miles per hour or better. That is a MLB single‐game record in the Statcast era (since 2015). Anthony Rizzo’s first‐inning double was the hardest hit ball of the day (112.6).
• DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: The Cubs had three first‐inning run‐scoring doubles in Friday’s contest. The last time the Cubs had three run‐scoring doubles in the first inning was August 16, 2007, vs. Cincinnati, when they had four that inning. (H/T: Elias)
• THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Cubs are 5‐2 through the first seven games of this nine‐game homestand. The team has hit .295 (70‐for‐237) with 14 home runs and 57 runs scored so far in the seven games, including a .366 average (26‐for‐71) with runners in scoring position.
• WILLSON! Willson Contreras’ home run Friday tied him for third on the all-time Cubs catcher HR list with Randy Hundley (80 HR), behind only Jody Davis (122) and Gabby Hartnett (231). Also, in his last 12 games Contreras is hitting .326/.404/.674 (15-for-46) with a double and five home runs.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Brewers lineup:

Adbert Alzolay, RHP vs. Freddy Peralta, RHP

USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY NETWORK

You will forgive Adbert Alzolay if he has a feeling of déjà vu this afternoon.

Today will be his third start for the Cubs this year. Not only were both of the others against the Brewers, his pitching opponent both times was Freddy Peralta.

The Cubs lost both games and were dominated by Peralta. He and two relievers one-hit the Cubs April 6 at Wrigley Field and the Brewers put up a six-run inning against Alzolay and Andrew Chafin and won 6-3 April 12 in Milwaukee.

Alzolay’s overall numbers don’t look that great — 6.10 ERA, though a WHIP of 0.968 — but I thought he pitched better than that both times. In the Milwaukee game, Alzolay had thrown five really good innings, but then loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth. Alzolay got one out on a force at the plate, but Chafin then came in and served up a bases-clearing double to Daniel Robertson. Thus all the runs charged to Alzolay in that game scored after he departed.

I just have this feeling that the tables will turn this afternoon and the Cubs will get to Peralta and Alzolay will turn in a solid six-inning outing.

We shall see.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s 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 2021 Game Thread procedure will be a bit different than previous years. It will be similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.

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 post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, 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 the overflow thread 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 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.