Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Friday 9/29, 7:10 CT

Let’s go Pirates! Let’s go Cardinals! And Monday, let’s go Mets!

Friday notes...

• ALMOST EVEN: Between July 30, 2015, and April 8, 2018, the Cubs played nine series at Milwaukee. They won seven of them, winning 21 games and losing only nine. In 13 series since then at “Wrigley North,” the Cubs have won just one, their only visit in 2020, and split one, the four-game set earlier this year. They have won just 14 games and lost 27. A win by the Cubs tonight would even the all-time series between the teams. The Brewers currently lead, 214-213. The Cubs have scored eight more runs, 1,945-1,937. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• HE’S GONNA BE PLAYER OF THE MONTH (HOPEFULLY): Seiya Suzuki, 26 games in September: .376/.434/.713 (38-for-101) with nine doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 26 RBI and 17 runs scored.
• THIEVERY: The Cubs have stolen 138 bases this season, tied for third-most in the N.L. and seventh-most in MLB. It’s the most base thefts for any Cubs team in a single season since they had 151 in 1990.
• LITTLE, BIG MAN: In six appearances since being called up to the majors, Luke Little has thrown five innings and faced 24 batters, retiring 15 of them and striking out eight. He has yet to allow a run since his callup.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Brewers lineup:

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Colin Rea, RHP

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Hendricks usually throws well against the Brewers. In fact, he’s done so twice this year, once at Wrigley Field, once in Milwaukee. Overall this year: 12 innings, eight hits and three walks (0.917 WHIP). one run (unearned), 11 strikeouts.

Go get ‘em, Kyle.

Colin Rea is a former Cub, though you might not remember him much as he threw just 14 innings for the Cubs in the 2020 pandemic season with a 5.79 ERA.

This year he has made 25 appearances (21 starts) for the Brewers and has produced a 4.74 ERA and 1.220 WHIP, good for 0.2 bWAR. He has not faced the Cubs this year and has not started a game since September 8, though he was the “bulk guy” after an opener in two games since then. September is his best month this year (2.79 ERA, .191 opponents BA).

Most current Cubs have not faced him, only Cody Bellinger (0-for-2, both strikeouts) and Jeimer Candelario (0-for-1) have ever seen him, so that’s not of any real use.

Go get him, Cubs hitters.

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. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Brewers market territories).

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.