Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Brewers Sunday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2018-04-29T16:59:50-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/170347772018-04-29T16:59:50-05:002018-04-29T16:59:50-05:00Cubs 2, Brewers 0: Sweep!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hsmtEmMV5V1Y1Gijuipjw-oGONU=/122x298:3836x2774/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59569813/usa_today_10812112.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Tyler Chatwood pitched — and hit! — the Cubs to victory.</p> <p id="qoouFB">There has certainly been a lot of exciting <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> baseball over the last three-plus seasons.</p>
<p id="4Elflt">And yet, I don’t think I have enjoyed a weekend of regular-season Cubs baseball more than the past four days, a four-game Cubs sweep of the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> that culminated Sunday afternoon with a well-pitched <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_04_29_milmlb_chnmlb_1">2-0, two-hit shutout victory</a>.</p>
<p id="iqnZvx">At last, <span>Tyler Chatwood</span> showed the form that prompted Theo & Co. to sign him to a three-year contract this past offseason. One of the things that had hurt Chatwood in his previous starts was too many walks. His walk rate of 7.9 per nine innings prior to Sunday was nearly double his previous rate of 4.2.</p>
<p id="71DZGt">Sunday, Chatwood was in command through seven outstanding innings. He did issue three walks, but that’s more in line with his historic walk rate. Other than that, all he allowed was two singles, one by <span>Ryan Braun</span> in the first, the other by <span>Christian Yelich</span> in the third. Braun was erased on a double play, and after Yelich’s single, Chatwood retired 11 in a row until he walked <span>Jesus Aguilar</span> in the seventh. Another double-play ball bailed him out of that inning. That dropped his season walk rate down to 6.9, and I imagine it’ll continue to drop until it’s back to his career average.</p>
<p id="QfZ2Y7">Meanwhile, Brewers starter <span>Zach Davies</span> was nearly matching Chatwood. The Cubs loaded the bases with two out in the second inning and Chatwood sent a ground ball up the middle that <span>Orlando Arcia</span> ranged over and fielded for the third out.</p>
<p id="o1TQBr">The Cubs finally broke through in the fifth. <span>Addison Russell</span> tripled down the right-field line to lead off the inning, and after <span>Jason Heyward</span> struck out, Chatwood was again the hitter. He bounced a ball to almost exactly the spot he’d hit the one in the third — except this time, the Brewers had a pulled-in infield and the ball got through for an RBI single:</p>
<div id="56NgeU">
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">First hit and first RBI with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TreatYoSelf?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TreatYoSelf</a> <a href="https://t.co/cStDUUn6Kv">pic.twitter.com/cStDUUn6Kv</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/990683308462927872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="v6A6T0">Chatwood’s been a pretty good hitter over the course of his career. Entering Sunday’s game he was a lifetime .212 hitter with three doubles and a triple in 165 at-bats, with 14 RBI.</p>
<p id="5JeWME">The Cubs increased the lead to 2-0 in the sixth. In the top of that inning, a Chatwood pitch went off the knob of the bat of <span>Lorenzo Cain</span> for a foul ball. It was pretty clear the ball hit the bat; had it hit Cain’s hand, he certainly would have exhibited more pain than he showed. <span>Craig Counsell</span> decided to challenge:</p>
<div id="OxpJOR">
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brewers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brewers</a> challenge call that Lorenzo Cain was not hit by pitch in the 6th; call stands, no hit by pitch.<br><br>Powered by <a href="https://twitter.com/Mitel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mitel</a>. <a href="https://t.co/BC2J1RFrl3">pic.twitter.com/BC2J1RFrl3</a></p>— MLB Replay (@MLBReplays) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBReplays/status/990691426454290432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="jQlcqv">As you can see, there wasn’t much doubt about it, though it was ruled “call stands.”</p>
<p id="uwq1Bs"><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> got hit by Davies’ first pitch with one out, the seventh time he’s been hit this year, tying his teammate <span>Kris Bryant</span> for the major-league lead.</p>
<p id="mjRgH3">Usually, Rizzo simply drops his bat and trots to first base after a HBP. On this one, he stopped and stared at Davies for a bit before heading to the base, clearly not happy about what the Brewers had done. It occurred to me and Mike Bojanowski that the Brewers have a “swagger” about them that hasn’t quite been earned, not yet, anyway.</p>
<p id="EExgMg">This wound up eventually costing Milwaukee a run. <span>Willson Contreras</span> followed with a double, sending Rizzo to third, and after <span>Kyle Schwarber</span> was intentionally passed, Russell sent a fly deep enough to center field to score Rizzo with the Cubs’ second run.</p>
<p id="EwqWg7">After the seventh it was up to the Cubs’ pen. <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> walked Arcia, the first hitter he faced, but then struck out two of the next three to complete a scoreless inning. That gives CJ 23 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings, or an average of 15.1 per nine innings. He has definitely cut down on the walks this year; that was just his fifth walk on the season.</p>
<p id="HMj3wU">Then it was <span>Brandon Morrow</span>’s turn, and he retired the Brewers in order with relative ease to post his seventh save. Morrow has now faced 37 hitters and just nine of them have reached base (six hits, three walks).</p>
<p id="9stLnH">This entire weekend was impressive. The Cubs got outstanding pitching — two runs allowed (one earned) in four games, and swept the series despite scoring only nine runs in the four games. More impressive numbers:</p>
<div id="gUCP59">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> have allowed 9 runs in 8 games vs Brewers this season. <br><br>5 shutout wins vs Brewers this season is most by Cubs in a season vs a single opponent since they shut out the Mets 5 times in 1973</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/990696699390824449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="Q4u5aL">And that’s five times in eight games; the Cubs still have 11 games remaining against the Brewers this season. I imagine the Brewers will be happy to not have to face the Cubs again until June, especially with numbers like this:</p>
<div id="iEk011">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> starting pitching vs Brewers<br>This series: 0.00 ERA (1 unearned R), 27.0 IP, 11 Hits, 6 BB, 24 K, 0.630 WHIP<br>This season: 0.90 ERA (1 unearned R), 50.0 IP, 28 Hits, 11 BB, 46 K, 0.780 WHIP</p>— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/990704066589315079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="fXqJWQ">Also: Cubs starters, over the last six games, have allowed four earned runs in 40 innings, an ERA of 0.90. Their 95 runs allowed for the season is second-best in the National League behind the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> (85). And, even with the relative lack of run-scoring by the Cubs this weekend, they still rank third in the N.L. in runs (130) and second in runs per game (5.2).</p>
<p id="keKgbD">It won’t get easier with the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> and their high-powered offense coming to town Monday evening, though the Rox just got shut out by the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> Sunday and scored just three runs in their three-game set in Miami. The weather, which was pleasant Sunday if a bit chilly, is supposed to turn much warmer Monday, <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.6553677767515&lat=41.948040670630775#.WuY_UNMvzmI">with temperatures in the 70s</a> and the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field. <span>Jon Lester</span> will go for the Cubs and <span>Kyle Freeland</span> starts for the Rockies. Game time is 6:05 p.m. CT, an hour earlier than most Cubs home night games, because this game will be on ESPN outside the Chicago and Denver markets. Chicago-area coverage is on NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17300056/cubs-brewers-recap-tyler-chatwood-addison-russell-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2018-04-29T16:05:02-05:002018-04-29T16:05:02-05:00Overflow thread 3: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 4/29, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XYKXjRQe87m7QQMj-SynKdtYgtQ=/0x274:3820x2821/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59562571/usa_today_10809429.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Ka1dk3">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17270712/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-4-29-1-20-ctAl Yellon2018-04-29T15:20:02-05:002018-04-29T15:20:02-05:00Overflow thread 2: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 4/29, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ky41vfS7snhTklKtSAeeYKPi6lw=/0x0:3591x2394/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59562575/usa_today_10809376.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Ka1dk3">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17270710/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-4-29-1-20-ctAl Yellon2018-04-29T14:20:02-05:002018-04-29T14:20:02-05:00Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 4/29, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SMwNrsYnG7uUpprO7l6BQnMJAVs=/0x0:3941x2627/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59562579/usa_today_10809222.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Ka1dk3">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17270704/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-4-29-1-20-ctAl Yellon2018-04-29T13:15:02-05:002018-04-29T13:15:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 4/29, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qrrIiDiKYMyekBMrr4Je727xPBI=/0x0:2666x1777/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59521201/usa_today_10803547.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="RbVq1w">Go get ‘em, Tyler.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17270644/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-4-29-1-20-ctAl Yellon2018-04-29T11:30:02-05:002018-04-29T11:30:02-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers preview, Sunday 4/29, 1:20 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/itpyto8btFcusuBk6o3L2Ud06MQ=/0x0:2936x1957/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59562955/usa_today_10809274.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs go for their first four-game sweep since 2016.</p> <p id="BjDuSF">The 2015 Cubs, who won 97 games, swept a four-game series four times, of 12 such series.</p>
<p id="Gr4hCI">The 2016 Cubs, who won 103 games, swept a four-game series twice, also of 12 such series.</p>
<p id="pTP0S5">The 2017 Cubs, who won 92 games... didn’t accomplish this feat at all. They had 11 four-game series last year.</p>
<p id="AvjspB">Part of this is random, just based on the schedule and how the team’s playing at the time, not necessarily the opponent. Sweeping any four-game set is a difficult task, as you can see by the above numbers.</p>
<p id="FVZEMx">The Cubs have had two four-game sets prior to this weekend. They split four in Miami to open the season, then took three of four from the Brewers in Milwaukee three weeks ago. They do seem to have the Brewers’ number so far this season, going 6-1, outscoring them 27-9, and shutting them out four times. The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> are the only other team to shut out Milwaukee so far this year.</p>
<p id="opy6LG">This isn’t an easy pitching matchup for the Cubs, but I think they’ve got things rolling the way they want to right now and a sweep is quite possible.</p>
<p id="FvBJ29">Also, the Cubs now have the fewest losses (10) of any team in the N.L. Central, and a Cubs win and a Cardinals win this afternoon would put the Cubs and Cardinals in a first-place tie in the division.</p>
<p id="1Ht0Bp">Other notes:</p>
<ul>
<li id="MGqIo3">Cubs starters are now throwing the way we thought they would. For the last turn through the rotation: four earned runs in 33 innings (1.09 ERA). Opponents’ BA through those five starts: . 153 (17-for-111).</li>
<li id="UHW338">Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber share the team lead with seven homers each. It’s the first time the Cubs have had at least two hitters reach seven home runs in the season’s first month since 2000 campaign. That year, Shane Andrews and Sammy Sosa finished April with eight homers apiece while Henry Rodriguez added seven.</li>
<li id="AgI9ar">After Saturday’s shutout, the Cubs now have four shutouts over the Brewers this year. It’s the first time a Cubs team has shut out another team four times in one month since May 1969 (Padres). (H/T Ed Hartig)</li>
</ul>
<p id="LX5gx7">Onward!</p>
<p id="Caopjt">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="Vergm4"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="O4El5t">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> lineup! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EverybodyIn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EverybodyIn</a><br><br>Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a>: <a href="https://t.co/t4XvcdoeJc">https://t.co/t4XvcdoeJc</a> <a href="https://t.co/RwKB2S3ltc">pic.twitter.com/RwKB2S3ltc</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/990595325877477377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="paTjw6"><a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="xndIid">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brewers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brewers</a> lineup as <a href="https://twitter.com/ZDavies3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZDavies3</a> takes the hill for the series finale of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MILatChC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MILatChC</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsMyCrew?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsMyCrew</a> <a href="https://t.co/B9q2TSv8ZR">pic.twitter.com/B9q2TSv8ZR</a></p>— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/990607727205502977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h2 id="hOwA3X">
<span>Tyler Chatwood</span>, RHP vs. <span>Zach Davies</span>, RHP</h2>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TTlK7Mw9xM1RKIT1z0skESCCzdc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10720137/usa_today_10738711.jpg">
<cite>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FCj7dhttbZKJt2G0eT3pfcXEFl8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10720141/usa_today_10737491.jpg">
<cite>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="A7Nn3U">Tyler Chatwood’s last appearance against the Brewers was a one-inning relief appearance last August, after he was demoted from the rotation. His last start against them was <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL201704050.shtml">April 5, 2017</a> in Miller Park. He threw six innings and allowed four runs that night, including two home runs.</p>
<p id="Lz49FD"><a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-87.65582609921691&lat=41.94840473820574#.WuT8eNMvzmI">The weather forecast for today</a> shows it being much less windy than Saturday. Thus Chatwood won’t have that to help him keep baseballs in the yard; he’ll have to do that himself.</p>
<p id="6r46on">Really, with Chatwood I’m more concerned about the walks. He’s walked 19 in 21⅔ innings. That’s way too many. Cut down on those and today should turn out pretty well.</p>
<p id="ixxTxD"><span>Zach Davies</span> has two good starts and three mediocre-to-bad ones this year. One of the good ones was against the Cubs <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL201804070.shtml">April 7 at Miller Park</a>, where he allowed one run in six innings. The Cubs won the game off Milwaukee’s bullpen. </p>
<p id="zRE4Kf">Current Cubs are hitting .261 (49-for-188) against Davies with six home runs. Two of those are by <span>Kris Bryant</span>, who loves hitting Davies — he’s 13-for-30 (.433) against him. I’ll say this is the game KB breaks out and hits Davies hard.</p>
<p id="SrM2xf">Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago.</p>
<p id="47IVCe"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2018/04/29">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2018_04_29_milmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2018/CHN201804290.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="AScVZw"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/537013/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p id="c01E3n">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> site <a href="http://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brew Crew Ball</a>. 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.</p>
<p id="4R9cxt">The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. Here's how it works.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">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).</p>
<p id="Jy7Er2">At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.</p>
<p id="F5ehVY">You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="m5zVze">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/4/29/17270608/chicago-cubs-milwaukee-brewers-preview-sundayAl Yellon