Game One Hundred Four: Cubs (56-47) vs. Brewers (44-61)
- Game Time – 1:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: ABC-7 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Clayton Richard (1-0, 5.40/1.60/5.01) vs. Kyle Lohse (5-12, 6.24/1.44/5.10)
The Cubs take the field this afternoon in search of a four-game sweep over the Brewers. The Cubs have won four straight and are 5-1 in their last six games. A victory today would push the Cubs to a season-high 10 games over .500.
Clayton Richard was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make his third start. Richard did his job the first two times and he will have to keep the Brewers in check while the offense figures out Kyle Lohse. The veteran right hander has really struggled this year but one of Lohse’s best outings this season came at the Cubs’ expense.
The Cubs must not look past today to the week ahead (three with the Pirates and four against the Giants at Wrigley) because this is a must win for a team looking to continue its season past game No. 162.
Today all starts with Clayton Richard …
Clayton Richard makes his fourth appearance and third start of the season for the Cubs this afternoon. The Cubs acquired Richard from the Pirates on July 3 and he was on the mound at Wrigley the next day. Richard picked up the win on the Fourth of July in a 7-2 victory over the Marlins.
Richard struggled in relief of Jason Hammel four days later against the Cardinals. But he bounced back in Cincinnati and put the Cubs in position to win the game. Richard allowed three runs on four hits, two home runs, to the Reds in 5 2/3 innings.
In 15 innings at the big league level, Richard has allowed nine runs on 19 hits with five walks and six strikeouts.
Richard’s last start came on July 28 for the I-Cubs on the same day Dallas Beeler was hit rather hard by the Rockies. Richard pitched seven innings of shutout ball, allowed three hits and struck out four batters in a win over Triple-A Nashville.
Clayton Richard is 2-3 in seven career starts versus the Brewers with a 5.97 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. And at Miller Park, Richard owns a 1-2 record in four starts with a 6.75 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.
Brewers Career Numbers against Clayton Richard
- Ryan Braun: 5-for-18 with one double and two walks
- Adam Lind: 1-for-8 with one double
- Jonathan Lucroy: 4-for-7 with two doubles and one home run
- Elian Herrera: 1-for-6 with one double
- Kyle Lohse: 2-for-6
- Jean Segura: 1-for-5 with one triple
Kyle Lohse has had a rough year against just about every team except for the Cubs. One of Lohse’s five wins on the season came at the Cubs’ expense on May 9. Lohse lasted only five innings but he received 12 runs of support from his teammates.
Lohse is coming off a loss to the Giants. The Brewers are 0-4 in his last four starts and he has given up more than his fair share of runs and hits. Lohse is 1-3 in his last five starts with a 6.11 ERA and 1.71 WHIP. And Lohse has actually struggled more at Miller Park than on the road. Lohse is 3-7 in 11 home starts with an 8.15 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.
Kyle Lohse is 8-7 in 24 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.97 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Lohse knows how to pitch, the Cubs must not help him out today.
Cubs Career Numbers against Kyle Lohse
- Starlin Castro: 10-for-40
- Anthony Rizzo: 11-for-24 with two doubles, one home run and two walks
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-12 with one double
- Chris Coghlan: 3-for-10 with one double and one walk
- Chris Denorfia: 3-for-9 with one double
- Jonathan Herrera: 2-for-4
- David Ross: 3-for-4 with one home run
- Kris Bryant: 1-for-3 with one home run
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-3 with one double
- Addison Russell: 1-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …