Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Saturday 8/20, 1:20 CT

Today’s weather forecast doesn’t look too good, so here’s the area radar for you to keep handy:

Saturday notes...

• IT’S BEEN A WHILE: The Cubs have won three games against three different teams in three different ballparks in a three-day span (vs. Nationals Wednesday in Washington, vs. Orioles Thursday in Baltimore, vs. Brewers Friday in Wrigley Field) for the first time since June 11-13, 1947 (vs. Braves in Boston, vs. Pirates in Pittsburgh, vs. Phillies in Wrigley Field). (H/T: Ed Hartig)
• FRANIMAL UPDATE: Franmil Reyes has 14 hits in his first nine games as a Cub, the most in anyone’s first nine games with the club since Nick Castellanos (15) from August 1-9, 2019. Seven of Reyes’ 14 hits with the Cubs have gone for extra bases (three doubles, two triples, two home runs), the third-most extra-base hits in the first nine games with the team, trailing Nick Castellanos (10) and Jorge Soler (8).
• HE’S HOT: Nick Madrigal, last 11 games since August 5: .342/.419/.395 (13-for-38), two doubles, eight runs scored, four multi-hit games including two three-hit games.
• WORDS OF WISDOM: Patrick Wisdom’s 22nd home run Friday gave him 50 with the Cubs since his callup May 25, 2021, the fifth-most in the NL in that span.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

The Brewers lineup was not available at posting time. Please check the BCB Twitter feed for the Brewers lineup.

Marcus Stroman, RHP vs. Freddy Peralta, RHP

USA TODAY NETWORK

USA TODAY NETWORK

Marcus Stroman since returning from the injured list: seven starts, 2.21 ERA, 1.118 WHIP in 36⅔ innings. He did allow four unearned runs in his last outing, which points up the need to have a strong defense behind him, as Stroman is a ground-ball pitcher.

He has faced the Brewers twice this year and allowed four hits and one run in 12 total innings. Another one like that would be nice.

Freddy Peralta missed more than two months with a shoulder strain. Since his return: Three starts, 3.55 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, though he did not throw more than five innings in any of these starts. In his last start he threw 92 pitches, so it’s possible he could go longer today.

His only start vs. the Cubs this year was April 10 at Wrigley Field, and the Cubs hit him pretty well, three runs in four innings.

Statcast

Statcast

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee. It’s also on FS1 (no blackouts).

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. If you do go there to interact with Brewers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2022 Game Thread procedure will be like last years, 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.