On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Brewers series preview

Over the last few seasons as both teams have been playoff contenders, the Cubs/Brewers rivalry has definitely heated up. I would expect nothing less this year — and we’ll know a lot about it early, because the two teams will play nine times this month!

For more on the Brewers, here’s Kyle Lesniewski, manager of our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball.

The Brewers are looking for offensive bounce backs at a number of positions this season, and so far things don’t look promising after a tough opening series against the Twins.

Milwaukee hit a collective .170 with three extra-base hits across their first three games, pushing across six runs on Opening Day (in 10 innings) before getting one-hit in a game 2 loss and amassing only five hits and two runs in a losing effort on Easter Sunday.

Orlando Arcia and Keston Hiura are still searching for their first hits of the season, while Jackie Bradley, Jr., Lorenzo Cain, and Luis Urias each recorded only one hit apiece during the opening series. Hiura’s struggles (0-for-11, 6 K, HBP) are particularly concerning; the club is counting on him to be a significant offensive contributor, and he’s struggled initially at his new defensive home of first base, recording an error and getting knocked over in a collision yesterday. It’s still very early, of course, but the Brewers can’t afford to wait too long to get things going at the plate.

Fun fact

The last two times these teams played:

• The Cubs won on back-to-back ninth-inning home runs off Josh Hader, and
• The Cubs no-hit the Brewers behind Alec Mills.

Just sayin’.

Pitching matchups

Monday: Trevor Williams, RHP (2-8, 6.18 ERA, 1.572 WHIP, 6.30 FIP) vs. Brett Anderson, LHP (4-4, 4.21 ERA, 1.277 WHIP, 4.38 FIP)

Tuesday: Adbert Alzolay, RHP (1-1, 2.95 ERA, 1.172 WHIP, 3.05 FIP) vs. Freddy Peralta, RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.500 WHIP, 2.01 FIP)

Wednesday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.333 WHIP, 8.18 FIP) vs. Brandon Woodruff, RHP (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.000 WHIP, 2.51 FIP)

Note: 2020 stats for Williams, Anderson and Alzolay, 2021 stats for Peralta, Hendricks and Woodruff

Times & TV channels

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

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

Wednesday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

The Brewers lost two of three to the Twins over the weekend and had to come from behind in the ninth to take the one game they did win. Meanwhile, the Cubs handled the Pirates pretty well when the temperature was above 40 degrees.

The Cubs will take two of three.

Up next

The Cubs travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates (again!) in a three-game series beginning Thursday afternoon — the Pirates’ home opener.