Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers (0-0) at Chicago Cubs

In Series Previews by berselius35 Comments

Well, here we are in this bizarro baseball season. The Cubs kick off the summer with a three game set against the Beers. I guess there’s nothing else to say other than that it’s gonna be weird, and it’s gonna be baseball. We can distract ourselves from the shitshow around us by the Cubs continued committment to stranding runners in scoring position. For the Brewers, I expect Orlando Arcia to continue his streak of replacement level play against everyone but the Cubs.

Smoke em while you got em.

Team leaders

Based on 2019 numbers, not including anyone who joined the team this year.

Beers

  • OBP: Yelich (.429)
  • ISO: Yelich (.342)
  • HR: Yelich (44)
  • R+RBI: Yelich (197)
  • wRC+: Yelich (174)
  • BSR: Yelich (8.5)
  • Defense: Cain (9.0)
  • SP K/9: Peralta (11.61)
  • SP BB/9: Woodruff (2.22)
  • SP FIP: Woodruff (3.01)
  • RP K/9: Hader (16.41)
  • RP BB/9: Hader (2.38)
  • RP FIP: Houser (2.99)
  • WAR: Yelich (7.8)

Cubs

  • OBP: Rizzo (.405)
  • ISO: Happ (.300)
  • HR: Schwarber (38)
  • R+RBI: Bryant (185)
  • wRC+: Bryant (135)
  • BSR: Bryant (3.8)
  • Defense: Baez (15.7)
  • SP K/9: Darvish (11.54)
  • SP BB/9: Cyle (1.63)
  • SP FIP: Cyle (3.61)
  • RP K/9: Wieck (16.20)
  • RP BB/9: [picture of dumpster fire]
  • RP FIP: Wick (2.82)
  • WAR: Bryant (4.8)

Christian Yelich is pretty good

Who isn’t available?

Apparently as a part of a mlb.com website revamp you can’t actually see who is on the IL on the website. Not sure if this is related to their covid stuff.

On the Cubs side, Mark Zagunis has opted out of the season, Quintana is on the 10-day DL recovering from his self-inflicted thumb injury, and Descalso is on the 45-day DL with an ankle sprain.

On the Beers side, oft-injured starter Brett Anderson is on the DL with a finger injury, and IF Luis Urias is in the covid protocol. Ryan Braun is nursing back, neck, and oblique injuries but should be available to DH.

Pitching Matchups, game times

2019 K/9, BB/9, ERA, 2020 Projected ERA listed for all starters

Friday: Bob Minocqua, RHP (10.58, 2.22, 3.62, 3.80) vs Cyle Hendricks, RHP (7.63, 1.63, 3.46, 3.71), 6:10 PM CT

I just love dumb jokes about small north woods towns.

Saturday: Corbin Burnes, RHP (12.86, 3.67, 8.82, 4.11) vs Yu Darvish, RHP (11.54, 2.82, 3.98, 3.63), 12:05 PM CT

Burnes was primarily a reliever last year, and actually had pretty good peripherals. He also gave up 17 HRs in just 49 IP, so hopefully the Cubs go off on him.

Sunday: Freddy Peralta, RHP (12.18, 3.92, 5.29, 4.29) vs Tyler Chatwood, RHP (8.69, 4.34, 3.76, 4.50), 1:20 PM CT

Chatwood was a lot better than I remembered last year, though mostly came out of the pen. Still Chatwood as a nominal number three starter was, uh, not something I expected at this time two years ago.

Much like Chatwood, Peralta mostly worked out of the pen last year but his numbers aren’t nearly as good. He’s got good stuff, the Beers can only hope it finds the plate.

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Comments

  1. Perkins

    To day’s opening day base ball squadron:
    Bryant
    Rizzo
    Baez
    Schwarber
    Contreras
    Heyward
    Caratini (DH)
    Hoerner
    Happ

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  2. andcounting

    So, I’m curious. If the World Series winds up getting completed this year and the Cubs were to win it, what percentage of a normal World Series victory would it be worth to you on an emotional/enjoyment level? So, not compared to how much you enjoyed it in 2016, but compared to what you may have experienced in 2020 had there been no axis-tilting pandemic (with special guests racial upheaval, constitutional dissolution, and economic collapse) touring the world all year?

    Right now, I’m supposing 60% or so. I’m expecting to dismiss anything good as a fluke, but I’m also accepting any good news no questions asked.

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  3. Wenningtons Gorilla Cock

    andcounting:
    So, I’m curious. If the World Series winds up getting completed this year and the Cubs were to win it, what percentage of a normal World Series victory would it be worth to you on an emotional/enjoyment level? So, not compared to how much you enjoyed it in 2016, but compared to what you may have experienced in 2020 had there been no axis-tilting pandemic (with special guests racial upheaval, constitutional dissolution, and economic collapse) touring the world all year?

    Right now, I’m supposing 60% or so. I’m expecting to dismiss anything good as a fluke, but I’m also accepting any good news no questions asked.

    7/10 bologna sandwiches

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  4. Author
    berselius

    andcounting,

    Arcia has the only hits by the Beers

    For the Brewers, I expect Orlando Arcia to continue his streak of replacement level play against everyone but the Cubs.

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