Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Wednesday 7/5, 7:10 CT

Wednesday notes...

• ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Until Tuesday, the Cubs had never won an extra-inning game that ended with an outfielder catching a fly and throwing a runner out at home — or any other base. The only previous double play started by a Cubs outfielder in extras for the final two outs was on Sept. 8, 1938, in a 7-4 win at St. Louis. Augie Galan caught a fly, then threw to second baseman Billy Herman, whose relay to first baseman Ripper Collins doubled off a runner there. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• ALSO ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Tuesday’s game was only the seventh in which the Cubs preserved a tie in extra innings by tagging a runner out at the plate on a hit, as they did in the 10th inning — and just the second since 1939.

The previous six:

Aug. 13, 1919, at Brooklyn: Runner from second out at home on a single (2-2 in 12th)
Sept. 15, 1932 at New York: Tying run had scored on double, runner from first out at home (5-5 in 10th)
June 6, 1934, at St. Louis: Runner from first out at home on double (6-6 in 12th)
July 31, 1935 at Pittsburgh: Tying run had scored on triple, batter out trying for inside-the-park home run (5-5 in 10th)
July 7, 1939, at Pittsburgh: Runner from second out at home on single (4-4 in 10th)
Aug. 9, 2010 at San Francisco: Runner from first out at home on double (3-3 in 10th)
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

• HOT: Cody Belinger, last eight games since June 27: .419/.441/.484 (13-for-31), two doubles, six runs scored, only four strikeouts.
• ALSO HOT: Christopher Morel, last six games since June 29: .360/.346/.720 (9-for-25), three doubles, two home runs.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Brewers lineup:

Justin Steele, LHP vs. Adrian Houser, RHP

Justin Steele’s All-Star selection is richly deserved, as he’s been one of the best pitchers in MLB this year. (ADD MORE HERE)

He has started once vs. the Brewers this year, April 1 at Wrigley Field, and threw six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. (Unfortunately, the bullpen blew that game.)

More of that, please. (Well, not the bullpen blowing the game part.)

Adrian Houser missed the first month of 2023 with a groin injury. Since his return, he’s been mostly good, with only a couple of bad starts thrown in.

In his last start, June 29 vs. the Mets, he threw six innings and allowed two runs.

Ian Happ and Tucker Barnhart are both 3-for-10 vs. Houser.

Statcast

Statcast

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.

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 2023 Game Thread procedure will be like last year’s, 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.