The Cubs didn’t just roll past the Brewers in the series opener - they flattened them. Now they’re trying to do it again, and the lineup for Game 2 comes with one especially notable wrinkle.
Chicago is running back a mostly familiar group after that 17-3 outburst, the one that included a franchise-record nine home runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off in center, followed by Seiya Suzuki in right and Alex Bregman at third. Tyrone Taylor stays in left, Nico Hoerner hits fifth, Michael Busch is at first, Carson Kelly catches again, and Matt Shaw gets another look at second.
The big change is at designated hitter, where BJ Murray Jr. is making his debut after being called up with September roster expansion. The switch-hitter goes right into the lineup after spending the season putting up similar production in Triple-A against both righties and lefties. That kind of immediate opportunity isn’t exactly Craig Counsell’s usual style, which makes the move stand out even more.
Murray also brings a little more seasoning than your typical September call-up. He’s 26, was drafted in 2021, and has worked his way up to 19th on the Cubs’ prospect rankings.
Milwaukee is answering with a reshuffled order of its own against Matthew Boyd. Jackson Chourio moves into the leadoff spot, while Brice Turang, William Contreras, Jake Bauers, and Christian Yelich fill out the top six. Andrew Vaughn, Luis Lara, and Joey Ortiz are all in the starting lineup for the first time.
Boyd is coming off his best outing in a while. After allowing at least four runs in three of four starts, he settled in against the Arizona Diamondbacks and gave the Cubs 6.0 innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits and striking out five, his most in August.
He hasn’t faced the Brewers this season, but Chicago is counting on that veteran presence to help push the club to a second straight win.
On the other side, Robert Gasser brings a tough-to-read look and a 4.59 ERA over 82.1 innings in 16 appearances. He’s done a good job limiting hard contact and walks, but he’s also had trouble keeping traffic off the bases.
His mix includes a sweeper, four-seamer, sinker, and cutter, with the sweeper - thrown in the low 80s - standing out as his best pitch. The Cubs’ approach is clear: stay off that pitch and force him into the zone with the fastball or sinker.
In Other News...
Former Cubs Prospect Is Making The Gausman Trade Look Riskier
Brett Bateman is already making a strong first impression in Toronto, and that matters for Cubs fans because his path there traces back to the Kevin Gausman deal. Since his debut with the Blue Jays on Aug. 8, Bateman has hit well enough to become a useful part of a team that is pushing its way deeper into the playoff picture, which adds an early layer of intrigue to a trade that was supposed to be centered on pitching.
For Chicago, the more immediate concern is how the other side of the swap has gone. Gausman has struggled in his first five starts with the Cubs, carrying a 5.14 ERA, and the contrast has only sharpened with Batemans early production north of the border. It is still early in the story of the trade, but the opening chapter already looks a lot different depending on which clubhouse you are watching. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Give Craig Counsell A New Bench Option For The Stretch Run
When rosters expand, the Cubs are planning to add another layer of depth for the stretch run by selecting the contract of corner infielder B.J. Murray. The 26-year-old switch-hitter is not currently on the 40-man roster, but Chicago has room to make the move, and his profile fits the kind of late-season insurance contenders tend to value.
Murray, a 2021 draft pick, has built a reputation for providing offense along with flexibility around the diamond. He has spent his pro career showing he can handle both infield and outfield duties, which gives Craig Counsell another potential bench piece as the Cubs navigate the final weeks of the season and look for ways to keep matchups in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Shelby Miller Suddenly Looks Like A Bigger Cubs Bullpen Concern
Shelby Millers rehab process has become one of the quieter health watch items for the Cubs, and not in a way that offers much comfort. He was pulled from a minor-league outing after hitting a 15-pitch limit, then sat out the next two scheduled games, which only reinforces how carefully the club is handling his return. Chicago has made clear it wants to see more than a single clean appearance before it considers him ready for the bullpen.
The bigger issue now is whether Miller can show he is built to work on consecutive days, since that has been the standard the Cubs have been waiting on throughout the rehab. Until he does, the timeline remains unsettled, and the next update is expected once the roster expansion period begins. For a bullpen that could use another dependable arm, the delay leaves another question hanging over the late-season picture. [Read more 🡒]