Post by Zigmo-Whitesox on Dec 16, 2023 19:09:11 GMT -5
Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers
SOMETHING NEW
The Chicago cubs started off the season on the road @milwaukee and here we are again six months later. This one is going to be worth a bit more than the opener in which Milwaukee escaped with a 1-0 victory back in March however. Following that series the Cubs would go on quite a run through April into may on a 22-9 romp. Signaling to their division rivals that they had arrived, and would be a force to be reckoned with. They were not the same squad that managed to win just 66 games the previous year. The writing was on the wall in the offseason that they would be a good team but running down the likes of LAD,SF,MIL,STL,NYM,PHI was a tall order. The Cubs cooled off their torrid pace and played a lot of .500 ball the rest of the way.. that is until Wednesday September 17th. The giants had been surging hard had just went 7-1 in their last 8 games and the cubs had lost 6 of their last 8. On the 16th the Giants had stolen the wildcard lead going up 2 games on the cubs. The Cubs needed to kick it into gear and they needed it now. It was the top of the fourth inning the Pirates had just put up 6 runs on the flailing cubbies blood was in water the season on the line. The Giants were winning their contest and the cubs needed a spark. Down 6-4 offseason acquisition Calvin Mitchell stepped to the plate and pounded an ill fated offering from Bert Medrano over the wall to tie the game and ignite the cubs offense. They would go on to win that game in a gritty affair 10-9 and would win 8 of their last 10 to out pace the Giants and secure a wildcard birth over the giants by a single game. If not for that Calvin Mitchell bomb this game may not be happening. They will look for their superstar outfielder to summon some more heroics if they want to get out of Milwaukee with a win.
SOMETHING OLD
Another year another playoff run for the Brew Crew right? Well yeah, pretty much.. !but there are some new faces. Micah Fortune has had an impressive rookie campaign belting 30 hrs and playing above average defense in right field. He seems nice what else? Luis Orellana has put up impressive numbers out of the bullpen pitching to a 2.62 ERA striking out a batter per inning and Angel Silva has also had a nice rookie campaign putting up 1.4 WAR he hit a few HRs too(7). That it? Taban Ohon? Roberto Sarmiento? Not impressed...? This is the same exact team from last year isn't it? They also added Chapparo midseason... He's not new.. Ok so you got me it's the same squad but that's not a bad thing. The brew crew were once again dominant. This year they have some extra motivation as well to avenge their early exit last year. They can clip some wayward cards right now as an appetizer for a bigger trophy in the ALDS. Isiah High and Calvin Mitchell all by themselves out the nest and vulnerable.. THAT is exciting! I knew you would come around!
Cubs Offense vs Milwaukee Pitching
Milwaukee has Mike Arnold rested and ready to go. A nightmare for many a team, Arnold has sported a 2.63 ERA this season striking out 258 in 209 innings of work. The cubs especially have had many restless nights. Hawkeye on the year is 3-0 in five games with 34 innings of work vs the cubs sporting a 1.85 ERA. 1.1 of his 5.9 WAR has been accumulated in games vs Chicago. And to make it worse all 3 of his wins vs the cubs were at home where his ERA drops to a miniscule 1.21 vs chicago. That's the stuff of nightmares for a team with one shot. Milwaukee also boasts a 3.24 bullpen ERA good for third in the league. Cubs will want to avoid having to go through Blystone and co. Blystone has been absolutely untouchable vs chicago on the year giving up 0 runs in 10.2 innings over 9 games. The brewcrew is also in the top of many defensive metrics clocking in at 10th in ZR and 9th in efficiency they wont give many freebies away.
BUT
The strength of this Cubs squad is an offense that absolutely can put up runs in bunches. They rank 5th in runs scored Calvin Mitchell accounting for 117 of those. The Cubs leadoff man has hit .326 with good power(21 bombs) and totaled 6 WAR. You have to think he has a chip on his shoulder after hearing "His best days are behind him"(TIM). And would like to get a shot at his former squad. It isn't just Mitchell that can hurt you though the cubs have 4 players with 30 hrs or more. Most notable among their sluggers not named mitchell would prob be Isaiah High. High is arguably having the best year of his career hitting 34 bombs driving in 99 while manning the hot corner. He is joined by high profile acquisition and CF Juan Castoreno. Castoreno will forever and always put up between 3 and 4 WAR and this year is no different. He has whopped 32 HRS and drove in 99 runs as well. Any mention of cubs without mentioning Francisco Lindor would be incomplete much like his season this year. He has been bugged by a few injuries appearing in just 102 games. Age is starting to catch up with him however he is still effective accounting for 1.9 WAR and hitting a robust .319 on the year. His status for this game remains up in the air but the captain will do his best to be out there to be sure as his backup Meqran Kwada also appears to battling injury.
EDGE: Milwaukee(Arnold effect)
Milwaukee Offense vs Cubs Pitching
I am assuming Liam Thomas(Not the swimmer I think) will be the starter here on regular rest. Thomas has been great for Chicago this season putting up 4.7WAR and sporting a 3.50 ERA. Thomas has been able to keep the ball in the park surrendering just 18 bombs on the year and this will be important facing a brewers squad who generates a ton of runs via the long ball. Thomas has been excellent vs Milwaukee this season giving up just 4 runs in 3 starts good for a 2.04 ERA. Things in Chicagos bullpen are less reliable but not bad by any means they come in with a 3.65 ERA. Led by dominant setup man Bobby Gibson and his 2.17 ERA in 70.2 innings of work. The guy who they hand the ball to in the ninth is David Janes recording 36 saves and a 3.45 ERA on the year however rocky is a good way to describe his performance vs Milwaukee. In 8 games vs the Brewers he has a 5.40 ERA and has been tagged with a loss lasting only 6.2 innings. If it's tight in the ninth and Janes comes on things could get interesting.
How good is Mike Perches? Good enough to lead the league in OBP, SLG% and OPS(Duh). Why does everyone I highlight seem to have 99 RBI... anyways. Mike Perches has been amazing with the bat this year hitting .315 with 35 bombs and 99 runs driven in in only 120 games had he been healthy this easily could have been a career year for the slugger. He is joined in the 30+ power club by Rodolfo Rivera,Will Dulihanty, and Micah Fortune (all lefties interestingly). Despite Perches nifty batting average this crew is more of a take walks and hit bombs type of club as a team good for a .247 average good for seventh worst however their on base % is a nice .333 good for 4th in the league. Will Dulihanty maybe a less known player around the league in comparison to some of his star teammates has had a really nice year. He led the league in walks with 102 hit 38 bombs and drove in 85 runs on the year. On the year Rodolfo Rivera has been especially rude to Chicago pounding 7 hrs while hitting .385 in 52 ABs. Also of note Catcher Nate Sprague has been oddly effective vs Chicago hitting .472 and 4 bombs in 36 ABs.
Edge: Chicago(while Thomas is pitching)
Of NOTE: The Season series favors Milwaukee 11-8
Deciding Questions
Which pitcher gives up the big homerun? Both pitchers excel at keeping the ball in the yard both offenses hit a lot of bombs.
Can Thomas keep the walks down? He doesn't walk many but the Brewers walk a LOT.
If Milwaukee chases Thomas do the flood gates open? Not sold on Chicagos bullpen.
Does Perches or Mitchell have the ability to take the game over? Two of the best hitters in the game + playoffs.
Prediction:
I think this is gonna be a pitchers duel through 4 or 5 then some bombs from both sides make it exciting till Blystone finally snuffs out a late rally 5-4 Brewers.
SOMETHING NEW
The Chicago cubs started off the season on the road @milwaukee and here we are again six months later. This one is going to be worth a bit more than the opener in which Milwaukee escaped with a 1-0 victory back in March however. Following that series the Cubs would go on quite a run through April into may on a 22-9 romp. Signaling to their division rivals that they had arrived, and would be a force to be reckoned with. They were not the same squad that managed to win just 66 games the previous year. The writing was on the wall in the offseason that they would be a good team but running down the likes of LAD,SF,MIL,STL,NYM,PHI was a tall order. The Cubs cooled off their torrid pace and played a lot of .500 ball the rest of the way.. that is until Wednesday September 17th. The giants had been surging hard had just went 7-1 in their last 8 games and the cubs had lost 6 of their last 8. On the 16th the Giants had stolen the wildcard lead going up 2 games on the cubs. The Cubs needed to kick it into gear and they needed it now. It was the top of the fourth inning the Pirates had just put up 6 runs on the flailing cubbies blood was in water the season on the line. The Giants were winning their contest and the cubs needed a spark. Down 6-4 offseason acquisition Calvin Mitchell stepped to the plate and pounded an ill fated offering from Bert Medrano over the wall to tie the game and ignite the cubs offense. They would go on to win that game in a gritty affair 10-9 and would win 8 of their last 10 to out pace the Giants and secure a wildcard birth over the giants by a single game. If not for that Calvin Mitchell bomb this game may not be happening. They will look for their superstar outfielder to summon some more heroics if they want to get out of Milwaukee with a win.
SOMETHING OLD
Another year another playoff run for the Brew Crew right? Well yeah, pretty much.. !but there are some new faces. Micah Fortune has had an impressive rookie campaign belting 30 hrs and playing above average defense in right field. He seems nice what else? Luis Orellana has put up impressive numbers out of the bullpen pitching to a 2.62 ERA striking out a batter per inning and Angel Silva has also had a nice rookie campaign putting up 1.4 WAR he hit a few HRs too(7). That it? Taban Ohon? Roberto Sarmiento? Not impressed...? This is the same exact team from last year isn't it? They also added Chapparo midseason... He's not new.. Ok so you got me it's the same squad but that's not a bad thing. The brew crew were once again dominant. This year they have some extra motivation as well to avenge their early exit last year. They can clip some wayward cards right now as an appetizer for a bigger trophy in the ALDS. Isiah High and Calvin Mitchell all by themselves out the nest and vulnerable.. THAT is exciting! I knew you would come around!
Cubs Offense vs Milwaukee Pitching
Milwaukee has Mike Arnold rested and ready to go. A nightmare for many a team, Arnold has sported a 2.63 ERA this season striking out 258 in 209 innings of work. The cubs especially have had many restless nights. Hawkeye on the year is 3-0 in five games with 34 innings of work vs the cubs sporting a 1.85 ERA. 1.1 of his 5.9 WAR has been accumulated in games vs Chicago. And to make it worse all 3 of his wins vs the cubs were at home where his ERA drops to a miniscule 1.21 vs chicago. That's the stuff of nightmares for a team with one shot. Milwaukee also boasts a 3.24 bullpen ERA good for third in the league. Cubs will want to avoid having to go through Blystone and co. Blystone has been absolutely untouchable vs chicago on the year giving up 0 runs in 10.2 innings over 9 games. The brewcrew is also in the top of many defensive metrics clocking in at 10th in ZR and 9th in efficiency they wont give many freebies away.
BUT
The strength of this Cubs squad is an offense that absolutely can put up runs in bunches. They rank 5th in runs scored Calvin Mitchell accounting for 117 of those. The Cubs leadoff man has hit .326 with good power(21 bombs) and totaled 6 WAR. You have to think he has a chip on his shoulder after hearing "His best days are behind him"(TIM). And would like to get a shot at his former squad. It isn't just Mitchell that can hurt you though the cubs have 4 players with 30 hrs or more. Most notable among their sluggers not named mitchell would prob be Isaiah High. High is arguably having the best year of his career hitting 34 bombs driving in 99 while manning the hot corner. He is joined by high profile acquisition and CF Juan Castoreno. Castoreno will forever and always put up between 3 and 4 WAR and this year is no different. He has whopped 32 HRS and drove in 99 runs as well. Any mention of cubs without mentioning Francisco Lindor would be incomplete much like his season this year. He has been bugged by a few injuries appearing in just 102 games. Age is starting to catch up with him however he is still effective accounting for 1.9 WAR and hitting a robust .319 on the year. His status for this game remains up in the air but the captain will do his best to be out there to be sure as his backup Meqran Kwada also appears to battling injury.
EDGE: Milwaukee(Arnold effect)
Milwaukee Offense vs Cubs Pitching
I am assuming Liam Thomas(Not the swimmer I think) will be the starter here on regular rest. Thomas has been great for Chicago this season putting up 4.7WAR and sporting a 3.50 ERA. Thomas has been able to keep the ball in the park surrendering just 18 bombs on the year and this will be important facing a brewers squad who generates a ton of runs via the long ball. Thomas has been excellent vs Milwaukee this season giving up just 4 runs in 3 starts good for a 2.04 ERA. Things in Chicagos bullpen are less reliable but not bad by any means they come in with a 3.65 ERA. Led by dominant setup man Bobby Gibson and his 2.17 ERA in 70.2 innings of work. The guy who they hand the ball to in the ninth is David Janes recording 36 saves and a 3.45 ERA on the year however rocky is a good way to describe his performance vs Milwaukee. In 8 games vs the Brewers he has a 5.40 ERA and has been tagged with a loss lasting only 6.2 innings. If it's tight in the ninth and Janes comes on things could get interesting.
How good is Mike Perches? Good enough to lead the league in OBP, SLG% and OPS(Duh). Why does everyone I highlight seem to have 99 RBI... anyways. Mike Perches has been amazing with the bat this year hitting .315 with 35 bombs and 99 runs driven in in only 120 games had he been healthy this easily could have been a career year for the slugger. He is joined in the 30+ power club by Rodolfo Rivera,Will Dulihanty, and Micah Fortune (all lefties interestingly). Despite Perches nifty batting average this crew is more of a take walks and hit bombs type of club as a team good for a .247 average good for seventh worst however their on base % is a nice .333 good for 4th in the league. Will Dulihanty maybe a less known player around the league in comparison to some of his star teammates has had a really nice year. He led the league in walks with 102 hit 38 bombs and drove in 85 runs on the year. On the year Rodolfo Rivera has been especially rude to Chicago pounding 7 hrs while hitting .385 in 52 ABs. Also of note Catcher Nate Sprague has been oddly effective vs Chicago hitting .472 and 4 bombs in 36 ABs.
Edge: Chicago(while Thomas is pitching)
Of NOTE: The Season series favors Milwaukee 11-8
Deciding Questions
Which pitcher gives up the big homerun? Both pitchers excel at keeping the ball in the yard both offenses hit a lot of bombs.
Can Thomas keep the walks down? He doesn't walk many but the Brewers walk a LOT.
If Milwaukee chases Thomas do the flood gates open? Not sold on Chicagos bullpen.
Does Perches or Mitchell have the ability to take the game over? Two of the best hitters in the game + playoffs.
Prediction:
I think this is gonna be a pitchers duel through 4 or 5 then some bombs from both sides make it exciting till Blystone finally snuffs out a late rally 5-4 Brewers.