Game One Hundred Sixty: Cubs (94-65) vs. Brewers (68-91)
- Game Time – 7:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 187, 844
- Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Jake Arrieta (21-6, 1.82/0.90/2.40) vs. Ariel Pena (2-0, 3.91/1.35/3.57)
It’s the final series of the regular season for the Cubs and Jake Arrieta takes the hill tonight in search of win No. 22 on the year. The Cubs begin play two games behind the Pirates for home field in the Wild Card Game. With help from a Reds’ team that has quit on Bryan Price the Cubs still have a shot at playing a game Wednesday at Wrigley.
The Cubs have the tough task of facing three rookie pitchers they have not seen before. After tonight’s match-up of Jake Arrieta and right hander Ariel Pena, Kyle Hendricks opposes righty Tyler Wagner on Saturday night. The regular season wraps up Sunday with Dan Haren on the hill against right hander Jorge Lopez.
Joe Maddon is expected to back Arrieta off a little tonight. If Arrieta is economical, like he was against the Pirates, he could end up completing more innings than Maddon has in mind for him.
The Cubs are 11-5 versus the Brewers this season and will not have to deal with Ryan Braun this weekend. Braun shut himself down to prepare for back surgery.
Taking care of business and preparing for the post-season are the Cubs goals for the weekend series at Wrigley Field North.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta looks to finish off his historic second half with a strong performance against the Brewers. Arrieta shut down the Pirates the last time out and hit a home run. Arrieta took a perfect game into the seventh inning, surrendered a hit and kept Joe Maddon from having to make a tough decision. Arrieta has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts (16 innings) while surrendering four hits with a walk and 20 strikeouts.
Jake Arrieta is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 0.45 ERA and 0.60 WHIP (three runs, two earned, on 20 hits with four walks and 39 strikeouts in 40 innings).
Since the break, Arrieta is 11-1 in 14 starts with a 0.80 ERA and 0.75 WHIP.
Tonight is Arrieta’s fourth start of the season versus the Brewers. Jake Arrieta is 1-1 in the first three with a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Brewers Numbers against Jake Arrieta in 2015
- Adam Lind: 0-for-9 with one walk
- Khris Davis: 1-for-8 with one walk
- Jean Segura: 3-for-9
- Scooter Gennett: 2-for-7 with one double
- Martin Maldonado: 2-for-4 with one walk
- Hernan Perez: 2-for-3 with one walk
- Logan Schafer: 0-for-4
- Jonathan Lucroy: 1-for-3 with one double
- Domingo Santana: 0-for-3
- Elian Herrera: 0-for-2
- Yadiel Rivera: 0-for-2
- Shane Peterson: 0-for-1
Ariel Pena makes his fifth career start in the big leagues tonight. Pena is coming off a solid start against the Cardinals. Pena allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts in five innings. Pena is 1-0 in two starts at Miller Park with a 2.70 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
The Brewers received Ariel Pena along with Johnny Hellweg and Jean Segura from the Angels for Zack Greinke in July 2012. The 26-year old right-hander was 2-2 in 43 games, seven starts, with a 4.14 ERA and 1.32 WHIP at Triple-A Colorado Springs this year (77 hits, 32 walks, 83 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings).
Pena can bring the heat. His fastball sits in the 92-96 mph range and can hit 98 mph with his four-seamer. Pena features a hard-breaking slider and a changeup. Due to his inability to repeat his mechanics and issues with command as his pitch count rises, scouts think he is better suited for the backend of a bullpen.
The Cubs will have opportunities if they are patient and make him work. Ariel Pena has walked 12 batters and given up 19 hits in 23 innings in the big leagues.
No one on Joe Maddon’s roster has faced Ariel Pena in a regular season Major League game.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …