Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Wednesday 4/7, 1:20 CT

Wednesday notes:

• THE BULLPEN, PART 1: After allowing eight walks, five hits and two runs in six innings on Opening Day, the Cubs bullpen has posted a 1.35 ERA (two earned runs in 13⅓ innings), allowing four walks, striking out 23 and limiting the opponent to a .136 average (6‐for‐44) in the team’s last four contests.
• THE BULLPEN, PART 2: The Cubs bullpen has struck out 36.7 percent of batters faced (29‐for‐79), the best mark among major league relief corps.
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Cubs infielder David Bote turns 28 today. Bote was selected by the Cubs in the 18th round of the 2012 Draft, the same round and 14 picks ahead of current teammate Matt Duffy, who was selected by the Giants.
• WALKING MAN: Kris Bryant has reached base safely in each of his first five games, posting a .400 on‐base percentage thanks in part to four walks, one each in his first four contests.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Brewers lineup:

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Brandon Woodruff, RHP

MLB Photos via Getty Images

MLB Photos via Getty Images

Kyle Hendricks had a lousy Opening Day start, yada yada, we know.

Some of that has to be attributable to the freezing cold weather and thus Kyle’s inability to locate his pitches well, and you know he lives and dies by locating.

The better news is not only that today will be warmer, but that Hendricks made two starts against the Brewers last year and allowed two runs in 16⅔ innings, with no walks and 16 strikeouts. In fact, career-wise the Brewers are one of his favorite targets: 23 starts, 2.84 ERA, 1.049 WHIP. I look for us to see Good Kyle on the mound this afternoon.

Brandon Woodruff also had a rough Opening Day start, allowing six hits, two walks and three runs in four innings against the Twins.

He made three starts against the Cubs last year. Two of them were good, one not so much, overall the numbers were good: 2.76 ERA, 0.735 WHIP, 21 strikeouts in 16⅓ innings.

Current Cubs are hitting .195 (15-for-77) against Woodruff. Joc Pederson is 3-for-3 with two home runs.

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.