Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers (19-11) at Chicago Cubs (19-13)

It’s our first divisional series, more than a month into the year! Grumble grumble. The Cubs and Beers have both been peppered with injuries but are succeeding despite it – maybe it’s Pat Murphy magic that Counsell inherited? It’s been fun seeing the Brewers-Cubs rivalry ramp up from where it was when I lived in Wisconsin *mumble* years ago, but I don’t know what it would take for it to ever be on the same tier as Cubs-Cardinals.

The Beers are coming off two series against East teams, with a series loss to the Yankees and a win against the Rays. As a team, the Brewers have the second best wRC+ in baseball, while their bullpen is about average. Their starting pitching numbers however are third worst in the league so far, making their hot start even more impressive. The Cubs, in contrast, have an average offense, top ten starting pitching (!) and a bottom five bullpen. That tracks.

Team Leaders

It’s smallish sample size, instead of miniscule sample size, so I’ll switch to current stats here.

Beers

OBP: William Contreras (.420)
ISO: Rhys Hoskins (.228)
HR: Willy Adames/Hoskins (6)
R+RBI: Contreras (53)
wRC+: Contreras (172)
BSR: Brice Turang (3.0)
Def: Adames (4.1)
SP K/9: Peralta (12.03)
SP K/9: Peralta (2.41)
SP ERA: Bryse Wilson (1.93)
SP FIP: Peralta (3.17)
RP K/9: Bryan Hudson (9.87)
RP BB/9: Payamps (1.69)
RP ERA: Bryan Hudson (0.52)
RP FIP: Payamps (2.29)
WAR: Adames (1.7)

Cubs

OBP: Tauchman (.422)
ISO: Busch (.223)
HR: Busch (6)
R+RBI: Morel (35)
wRC+: Tauchman (168)
BSR: Morel (0.9)
Def: Amaya (2.5)
SP K/9: Wicks (10.96)
SP BB/9: Imanaga (1.04)
SP ERA: Imanaga (0.78)
SP FIP: Imanaga (2.21)
RP K/9: Almonte (12.08)
RP BB/9: Thompson (2.53)
RP ERA: Leiter (0.68)
RP FIP: Thompson (1.36)
WAR: Imanaga (1.2)

It’s a bummer that Imanaga won’t face the Beers this weekend.

Who isn’t available?

Justin Steele just made a rehab start at Iowa, and could be back in the rotation as soon as next week. Cyle had a good rehab start in Iowa, throwing five scoreless with seven strikeouts. No timetable on Wicks yet, he’s probably a few weeks out and the ghost of potential TJ continues to lurk over his shoulder. Or elbow, I guess. Bellinger is ramping up baseball activites and could be back soonish. Seiya started light baseball activites a week or so ago, but I haven’t heard anything lately about a timetable. Reinforcements are coming, I hope.

For the Brewers, the biggest name injuries are to SP Wade Miley, who is going under the knife for TJ next week, and Christian Yelich, who has been out for the past few weeks with a back strain. Bob Minocqua is out all season after shoulder surgery last fall. Closer Devin Williams had a stress fracture in his back (ouch) in spring training, and won’t be back for another month or so at minimum. Speaking of yikes Jakob Junis was already on the DL with a shoulder injury, and was stretchered off the field after being hit by a ball during batting practice last week. In less dire injury news, Gary Sanchez is day to day with hamstring tightness.

Pitching Matchups

K/9, BB/9, ERA, projected ERA listed for each

Friday: Joe Ross, RHP (8.28, 4.32, 5.40, 4.66) vs Hayden Wesneski, RHP (5.23, 0.87, 0.87, 4.47), 1:20 PM CT

Saturday: Tobias Myers, RHP (8.10, 0.90, 4.50, 4.75) vs Jameson Taillon, RHP (4.50, 1.50, 1.50, 4.49), 1:20 PM CT

Sunday: Freddy Peralta, RHP (12.03, 2.41, 3.21, 3.82) vs Javier Assad, RHP (7.59, 2.53, 1.97, 4.20), 1:20 PM CT

87 thoughts on “Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers (19-11) at Chicago Cubs (19-13)”

  33. berselius,

    I did the SW marathon last night (first time seeing the OT in theaters) and it was a hell of an experience. It’s still going on for another couple hours or so, but I left after Return of the Jedi figuring that was better than sticking it out and letting Rise of Skywalker drag me back to cynicism.

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  40. Really wish “right down the middle” and “a foot outside” wasn’t such a binary with this bullpen.

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  43. The fact that the Cubs haven’t made W(hew) their new slogan is a marketing travesty.

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  44. They gotta do something about the bullpen, maybe take the entire staff to a hypnotist so they destress like Peter from Office Space, but yay W

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  48. berselius,

    I liked that the AB was finished by a different matchup, in which the batter would’ve struck out on a previous pitch but for a bad call, then struck out looking on a makeup call

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  52. Bunch of science nerds scheduling a weekend conference against an important Cubs series proves that just because you have a PhD doesn’t make you smart 😜

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  53. berselius,

    “I liked Star Wars when I was a kid,” is one of those “Oh shit, that’s the only correct answer” answers, so it’s hilarious that it was the very beginning of a long conversation.

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  56. To-day’s base ball squadron

    2B Hoerner
    RF Tauchman
    LF Happ
    3B Morel
    1B Busch
    SS Swanson
    DH Wisdom
    CF PCA
    C Amaya

    P Assad

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  61. Series Mini-Preview

    Monday: Yu Darvish vs Justin Steele 6:40 PM CT
    Tuesday: Someone vs Shota Imanaga 6:40 PM CT
    Wednesday: Dylan Cease vs Hayden Wesneski, 1:20 PM CT

    Would be impressive if the Padres manage to pitch three former Cubs organization guys in this series.

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  65. berselius,

    I’m always amazed at how much younger JD looks on the copy of the game I have (he has hair). It’s a treat to hear him and Bill Brown marvel at how Wood is mowing down the team that employed them rather than being homers about it.

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  66. To-day’s base ball squadron against hurler Yu Darvish

    2B Hoerner
    RF Tauchman
    LF Happ
    DH Morel
    1B Busch
    SS Swanson
    3B Madrigal
    CF PCA
    C Gomes

    SP Steele

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  68. I love that Citizens Bank Park puts SCHWARBOMB on its video board when Schwarbear goes yard.

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  82. Random grapevine stuff

    – Keegan Thompson sighted (suggests pitcher injury, not sure whom)
    – Canario optioned down (suggesting someone coming back, maybe Belli)

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