After a rough night on the pitching and defensive side, the Cubs are leaning hard into run prevention again tonight. Craig Counsell is putting together what looks like his best defensive group available, with Matt Shaw at second base and Tyrone Taylor in right field as Chicago tries to steady itself against Milwaukee.
The Cubs dropped their NL Wild Card lead to the Phillies after a 9-4 loss to the Brewers last night, and if the postseason started today, Philadelphia would host the three-game Wild Card series. Chicago now gets Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ hard-throwing right-hander who has posted a 1.73 ERA this season. It’s a tough assignment, but also the kind of arm the Cubs should expect to see if they end up playing in October.
Here’s how Chicago lines up:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Seiya Suzuki, DH
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Ian Happ, LF
- Matt Shaw, 2B
- Tyrone Taylor, RF
- Miguel Amaya, C
The matchup that jumps out early is Misiorowski against Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is hitless in nine tries against the righty. Seiya Suzuki, meanwhile, has had some success against him. Suzuki homered off the Miz earlier this season and owns a 1.194 OPS in nine career plate appearances against him.
Milwaukee’s order brings its own danger. Jackson Chourio has crushed Peterson in a small sample, posting a 1.194 OPS in eight at-bats against him, including a home run earlier this year when he was with the Mets. Gary Sanchez also stands out as a threat, especially as a low-ball hitter, with a .873 career OPS against Peterson.
Peterson gets the ball in strong form. He has a 2.50 ERA over his last seven starts and hasn’t taken a loss, going 3-0 in that stretch. He’s also missing more bats lately while keeping the ball on the ground at a 50% clip, striking out six or more in four of his last five outings.
The numbers have been even better across that seven-start run, with Peterson putting up a 2.03 ERA, 55 strikeouts and just eight walks. Against a Brewers lineup that leans more toward contact, he gives the Cubs a chance to play to one of their strengths on defense and try to take the series.
Milwaukee’s lineup:
- Jackson Chourio, LF
- Brice Turang, 2B
- Andrew Vaughn, 1B
- William Contreras, C
- Jake Bauers, RF
- Luis Lara, CF
- Gary Sanchez, DH
- Joey Ortiz, 3B
- Cooper Pratt, SS
The Cubs are likely to rack up strikeouts against Misiorowski, who is simply too good at missing bats and mixing speeds. Chicago’s best path is to make him work deep into counts and force him to keep throwing.
If the Cubs do connect, the conditions could help. Temperatures in Chicago are expected to reach 90-plus degrees, and that kind of heat can get the ball carrying.
One clean shot off a fastball could leave the yard in a hurry.
For now, though, the expectation is a night full of swing-and-miss.
In Other News...
Former Brewers Reliever Gets Another Shot To Test Milwaukees Decision
Easton McGees path away from Milwaukee has already taken a few turns since the Brewers designated him for assignment and shipped him to Kansas City in July. He got a brief look with the Royals, then spent most of August in Triple-A, where the results were rough enough to push him back out of the spotlight for a while.
Now he is back on Kansas Citys major league roster as a September call-up, which gives him another chance to show he belongs in an MLB bullpen. For the Brewers, it is the kind of move that keeps a former arm on the radar and quietly reopens the question of whether the organization gave up on him too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers May Have Found The Tweak Antonio Senzatela Needed
Antonio Senzatelas move to the Brewers has already come with a clearer role and a different pitch mix, but the early returns were uneven. After his transition from the Rockies rotation to the bullpen, he had found more success leaning on a cutter and four-seam fastball, yet Milwaukee initially had him working more with a sinker-cutter combination that did not produce the kind of results the club was hoping for.
The good news for the Brewers is that the answer may have been less about the pitch itself than where he was throwing it from. A later adjustment to Senzatelas position on the mound helped his sinker play better, giving Milwaukee a possible path to a more effective version of the right-hander as it continues to sort out how he fits into the staff. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Deadline Gamble Is Turning Into An October Rotation Problem
When Milwaukee dealt for Dustin May at the deadline, the move was supposed to deepen a rotation the Brewers hoped would hold up into the stretch run. Instead, the right-hander has been searching for answers since arriving, and the early returns have been rough enough to change the tone around what was meant to be a stabilizing addition.
May has posted a 6.41 ERA in five appearances with Milwaukee, part of a season that has already been uneven overall. His 6-9 record and 4.69 ERA underscore why the Brewers were betting on upside when they brought him in, but the performance has not matched the ask, and it now looks unlikely the club will pick up his option for 2027. [Read more 🡒]