The air crackles with electricity, the smell of hotdogs and popcorn hangs heavy, and the roar of the crowd reverberates through the stadium. It’s that time of year again: division rivals collide in a battle for bragging rights. This week, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, two teams with a history steeped in fierce competition, face off in a series that could shift the landscape of the NL Central. Forget friendly rivalries; this is all-out war on the diamond. Buckle up, Brew Crew faithful, because things are about to get heated.
Brew Crew Ball: Cubs’ Depth and Brewers’ New Faces Set Stage for an Exciting Series
The Chicago Cubs spent much of the first half of last season sleepwalking their way through their schedule, struggling to find their footing after a World Series appearance the previous year. The Cubs learned from that experience and went out and got deeper, adding key players to their roster to bolster their pitching staff and bench.
For the second straight winter, Chicago lost its closer, with Wade Davis collecting a significant contract from the Colorado Rockies. They also lost Koji Uehera, who decided to return home to Japan after a solid run in the United States. The Cubs replaced Uehera with former closer Steve Cishek and stole one of the Dodgers’ secret weapons, Brandon Morrow, to serve as their closer this year. They replaced John Lackey with Tyler Chatwood and signed Yu Darvish on Valentine’s Day after months of flirting.
The additions weren’t necessarily made to be 1:1 replacements for the guys they lost, but they still represent upgrades almost across the board. Infield wise, most of the Cubs’ focus in the offseason was on pitching, with limited changes to the roster elsewhere. They’re still the same young faces, with a slew of Swiss Army Knife utility players backing up the core starters.
Anthony Rizzo wants to play in all 162 games this year, but Joe Maddon’s style might not allow for that. Ben Zobrist will likely play first when Rizzo gets a breather, and will also back up Javier Baez at second base. Baez will back up Addison Russell at shortstop, while Kris Bryant will be at third base, with Zobrist filling in there from time to time.
The Cubs’ main center fielder, Ian Happ, also came up through the minors as a second baseman and will likely play there some, too. When Happ isn’t in center, it’ll likely be Albert Almora playing there. Kyle Schwarber lost weight in the offseason and hopes to avoid his slow start from last year. When he’s not playing, you guessed it, Zobrist will play left. Jason Heyward and his headache of a contract return to right field, but his defensive prowess and improved batting average make him a valuable asset.
Brewers Aim for Counter Punch: Peralta Leads a Restructured Lineup
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to Chicago to take on the Cubs for the first time in 2024, marking the first time Milwaukee faces off against former manager Craig Counsell. Pat Murphy will miss Friday’s game after being suspended for two games, but will return for the final two games of the series.
Willy Adames has turned it on as of late, hitting three homers in the last two games and entering the weekend series with a .278/.373/.496 slash line. William Contreras remains Milwaukee’s leader on offense, hitting .345/.420/.538 with five homers and 25 RBIs. Brice Turang continues to produce with a .309/.370/.433 slash line, two homers, 12 RBIs, and 14 steals.
Newcomer Tyler Black has three hits in his first two games, going 3-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored. On the other side, rookie Michael Busch leads the Cubs with six homers and 17 RBIs in 29 games, hitting .255/.321/.480. Mike Tauchman leads the team with a .927 OPS, hitting .295/.427/.500 with three homers, seven doubles, and 10 RBIs.
Cubs’ Offseason Shakeup: Building on Last Year’s Success
Beyond the Core: Analyzing Chicago’s Depth Acquisitions
The Cubs added key players to their roster to bolster their pitching staff and bench. They replaced Wade Davis with Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow, and signed Yu Darvish to a significant contract. These additions represent upgrades almost across the board, and will help the Cubs build on last year’s success.
The Cubs’ infield is still young and talented, with a slew of Swiss Army Knife utility players backing up the core starters. Anthony Rizzo wants to play in all 162 games this year, but Joe Maddon’s style might not allow for that. Ben Zobrist will likely play first when Rizzo gets a breather, and will also back up Javier Baez at second base.
- Rizzo’s goal is to play in all 162 games this year.
- Ben Zobrist will likely play first when Rizzo gets a breather.
- Zobrist will also back up Javier Baez at second base.
From Closer to Utility: How Chicago Retooled the Bullpen
The Cubs retooled their bullpen this offseason, adding key players to bolster their pitching staff. They replaced Wade Davis with Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow, and signed Yu Darvish to a significant contract. These additions represent upgrades almost across the board, and will help the Cubs build on last year’s success.
The Cubs’ bullpen is now deeper and more talented than ever, with a slew of young arms vying for a spot in the rotation. Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow will anchor the bullpen, while Yu Darvish will provide a boost to the starting rotation.
- Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow will anchor the bullpen.
- Yu Darvish will provide a boost to the starting rotation.
Addressing Weaknesses: Did the Cubs Fill Their Gaps?
The Cubs addressed their weaknesses this offseason, adding key players to bolster their pitching staff and bench. They replaced Wade Davis with Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow, and signed Yu Darvish to a significant contract. These additions represent upgrades almost across the board, and will help the Cubs build on last year’s success.
The Cubs’ roster is now more well-rounded than ever, with a slew of talented players vying for a spot in the lineup. Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow will provide a boost to the bullpen, while Yu Darvish will anchor the starting rotation.
- Steve Cishek and Brandon Morrow provide a boost to the bullpen.
- Yu Darvish anchors the starting rotation.
Brewers Aim for Counter Punch: Peralta Leads a Restructured Lineup
Adames and Contreras: Milwaukee’s Offensive Catalysts
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to Chicago to take on the Cubs for the first time in 2024, marking the first time Milwaukee faces off against former manager Craig Counsell. Willy Adames has turned it on as of late, hitting three homers in the last two games and entering the weekend series with a .278/.373/.496 slash line.
William Contreras remains Milwaukee’s leader on offense, hitting .345/.420/.538 with five homers and 25 RBIs. Brice Turang continues to produce with a .309/.370/.433 slash line, two homers, 12 RBIs, and 14 steals. Newcomer Tyler Black has three hits in his first two games, going 3-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored.
- Willy Adames has turned it on as of late.
- William Contreras leads Milwaukee’s offense.
- Brice Turang continues to produce.
Turang’s Emergence: The Rookie Flashing Big Potential
Brice Turang continues to produce for the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting a .309/.370/.433 slash line with two homers, 12 RBIs, and 14 steals. The rookie is flashing big potential and will be a key player for the Brewers as they face off against the Cubs.
Turang’s emergence is a bright spot for the Brewers, who are looking to bounce back from a tough start to the season. His production will be crucial as the Brewers try to take down the Cubs and get back on track.
- Brice Turang continues to produce.
- His emergence is a bright spot for the Brewers.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, May 3 @ 1:20 p.m: Joe Ross (1-3) vs. Hayden Wesneski (2-0)
Ross has had rough outings two of his last three times out, allowing six earned runs in losses to the Yankees and Padres. He lost all three of those starts, though he gave up just one earned run across 5 1⁄ 3 innings in his loss to Pittsburgh. He has a 5.40 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 25 innings this season.
In eight appearances (seven starts) against Chicago in his career, he’s 0-4 with a 4.25 ERA and 31 strikeouts across 36 innings. Wesneski has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago this season. In three appearances (one start) with the Cubs this year, he’s 2-0 with 0.87 ERA and six strikeouts in 10 1⁄ 3 innings.
Saturday, May 4 @ 1:20 p.m: Tobias Myers (0-1) vs. Jameson Taillon (2-0)
Myers is a rookie with two starts under his belt. He’s gone five innings in both games, allowing five earned runs (4.50 ERA) with nine strikeouts. His last time out against the Yankees, he allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts in a no decision.
After opening the season on the injured list, Taillon has made three starts for the Cubs, allowing three runs in 18 innings (1.50 ERA) with nine strikeouts. His last start was his best yet, as he allowed one run on four hits and a walk across 7 1⁄ 3 innings against the Mets.
Sunday, May 5 @ 1:20 p.m: Freddy Peralta (3-0) vs. Javier Assad (2-0)
Peralta is coming off another strong start, albeit one in which he was suspended after the fact. He went 5 1⁄ 3 innings and allowed two runs on one hit, two hit batters, and no walks with seven strikeouts on just 66 pitches prior to being ejected.
In 33 2⁄ 3 innings this season, he’s 3-0 with 45 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA. In 15 career appearances (10 starts) against the Cubs, Peralta is 5-1 with a 3.34 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 59 1⁄ 3 innings.
Assad has had a strong career in three seasons with the Cubs, as he’s 9-5 with a 2.87 ERA across 47 games (24 starts). In six starts this season, he’s 2-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.
New Faces, New Energy: Black and Myers Look to Make an Impact
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to Chicago to take on the Cubs for the first time in 2024, also marking the first time Milwaukee faces off against former manager Craig Counsell. After a slow start, Willy Adames has turned it on as of late, hitting three homers in the last two games and entering the weekend series with a .278/.373/.496 slash line with six homers, 21 RBIs, and four steals. William Contreras leads Milwaukee’s offense, hitting .345/.420/.538 with five homers and 25 RBIs, while Brice Turang continues to produce with a .309/.370/.433 slash line, two homers, 12 RBIs, and 14 steals.
Newcomer Tyler Black has three hits in his first two games, going 3-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored. On the other side, rookie Michael Busch leads the Cubs with six homers and 17 RBIs in 29 games this season, hitting .255/.321/.480. Mike Tauchman leads the team with a .927 OPS, hitting .295/.427/.500 with three homers, seven doubles, and 10 RBIs. Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, and Christopher Morel are among other key contributors for Chicago, though all four have an OPS below .710.
Pitching Matchups: A Battle of Arms
Ross vs. Wesneski: Can Milwaukee’s Veteran Slow Down Chicago’s Hot Start?
Probable pitching matchups start with Joe Ross (1-3) facing off against Hayden Wesneski (2-0) on Friday. Ross has had rough outings two of his last three times out, allowing six earned runs in losses to the Yankees and Padres. He lost all three of those starts, though he gave up just one earned run across 5 1⁄ 3 innings in his loss to Pittsburgh. He has a 5.40 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 25 innings this season.
In eight appearances (seven starts) against Chicago in his career, he’s 0-4 with a 4.25 ERA and 31 strikeouts across 36 innings. Wesneski has bounced back and forth between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago this season. In three appearances (one start) with the Cubs this year, he’s 2-0 with 0.87 ERA and six strikeouts in 10 1⁄ 3 innings. He’s made one appearance against the Brewers, getting the win and striking out three with no runs allowed in 1 2⁄ 3 innings.
Myers and Taillon: A Clash of Styles in the Center of the Series
Saturday’s matchup features Tobias Myers (0-1) against Jameson Taillon (2-0). Myers is a rookie with two starts under his belt. He’s gone five innings in both games, allowing five earned runs (4.50 ERA) with nine strikeouts. His last time out against the Yankees, he allowed four runs on five hits with five strikeouts in a no decision.
After opening the season on the injured list, Taillon has made three starts for the Cubs, allowing three runs in 18 innings (1.50 ERA) with nine strikeouts. His last start was his best yet, as he allowed one run on four hits and a walk across 7 1⁄ 3 innings against the Mets. The former second overall pick has made 14 appearances (13 starts) against the Brewers, going 3-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 72 1⁄ 3 innings.
Peralta and Assad: A Showdown of Aces
Sunday’s finale features Freddy Peralta (3-0) against Javier Assad (2-0). Peralta is coming off another strong start, albeit one in which he was suspended after the fact. He went 5 1⁄ 3 innings and allowed two runs on one hit, two hit batters, and no walks with seven strikeouts on just 66 pitches prior to being ejected. In 33 2⁄ 3 innings this season, he’s 3-0 with 45 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA. In 15 career appearances (10 starts) against the Cubs, Peralta is 5-1 with a 3.34 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 59 1⁄ 3 innings.
Assad has had a strong career in three seasons with the Cubs, as he’s 9-5 with a 2.87 ERA across 47 games (24 starts). In six starts this season, he’s 2-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings. He allowed one run on five hits and no walks with a strikeout in five innings.
Brewers vs. Cubs: Keys to the Series
Can Milwaukee Match Chicago’s Intensity?
The Chicago Cubs learned from their World Series hangover last year and went out to get deeper, not only having one of the best young cores in baseball but also one of the deepest pitching staffs and benches in the game.
Pitching Prowess: Will Milwaukee’s Arms Be Enough?
The Brewers will rely on their pitching to match the Cubs’ intensity. They added Steve Cishek to replace Koji Uehera and stole one of the Dodgers’ secret weapons from last year, Brandon Morrow, to serve as their closer this year. They replaced John Lackey with Tyler Chatwood and then finally signed Yu Darvish the day before Valentine’s Day after months of flirting.
The Factor of Home Field: Will Wrigley Field Give Chicago an Edge?
The Cubs’ home field advantage at Wrigley Field, could give them an edge in the series. However, the Brewers have been playing well on the road, and their pitching staff is capable of shutting down the Cubs’ offense.
Conclusion
The upcoming Brewers-Cubs series promises to be a captivating clash of styles. As we’ve seen, Milwaukee’s potent offense, spearheaded by the likes of Yelich and Woodruff, will face off against a Cubs pitching staff seeking redemption after a shaky start. Chicago’s young core, fueled by players like Nico Hoerner and Christopher Morel, will look to exploit any vulnerabilities in the Brewers’ pitching rotation. This series transcends mere divisional rivalry; it’s a microcosm of the evolving dynamics within the NL Central. The outcome will undoubtedly impact both teams’ playoff aspirations, with the Brewers aiming to solidify their position atop the division and the Cubs striving to claw their way back into contention. The series will be a test of resilience and adaptability, showcasing which team possesses the mental fortitude and strategic acumen to prevail in this pivotal matchup. As the first pitch is thrown, one thing is certain: the battle for baseball supremacy in the heartland is about to intensify.