Game Ninety-Six: Cubs (58-37) vs. Brewers (40-54)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN TV – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
John Lackey, RHP (7-6, 3.75/1.09/3.75) vs. Zach Davies, RHP (6-4, 3.79/1.20/4.10)
The Cubs turn to John Lackey tonight in search of two wins in a row over the Brewers.
John Lackey has struggled for the most part for over a month. The Cubs could really use at least a quality start from Lackey tonight while the offense figures out Zach Davies.
The Brewers young right-hander is in the middle of a very good stretch. Over his last eight starts, Davies has allowed 15 runs, 14 earned, on 41 hits with nine walks and 47 strikeouts in 51 innings (2.47 ERA, 0.98 WHIP).
Joe Maddon should fill his lineup card with as many left-handers as possible. Davies has limited right-handers to a .637 OPS (13 extra basehits … six doubles, a triple, six home runs) with a .220/.269/.367 line. Lefties have a .806 OPS (16 extra basehits … eight doubles, two triples, six home runs) with a .287/.344/.462 slash line.
Tonight all starts with John Lackey …
It won’t happen but it would really be good to see John Lackey stick the antics in his back pocket and just pitch tonight. Lackey has not put his team in position to win a game since the end of June.
Lackey is coming off a loss to the Rangers. Lackey allowed the Rangers to jump out to an early lead and with Cole Hamels on the hill at Wrigley it was too much for the Cubs to overcome. Lackey did not pitch as well as his final line of four runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in eight innings indicates.
After posting a 2-2 record in six starts last month with a 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, Lackey is 0-2 in his last three starts with a 6.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Lackey is 3-2 in 10 road starts this season with a 4.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.
John Lackey must start pitching better.
Lackey faces the Brewers for the second time this year. Lackey allowed one run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings at Miller Park back on May 18. The Cubs won the game 2-1. John Lackey is 5-1 in nine career starts against the Brewers with a 2.95 ERA and 1.11 WHIP … at Miller Park, Lackey is 1-1 in four starts with a 3.60 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
Brewers Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Jonathan Lucroy: 5-for-18 with two doubles and three walks
- Ryan Braun: 4-for-19 with one double
- Scooter Gennett: 5-for-14 with one double and one walk
- Chris Carter: 1-for-8 with one home run
- Martin Maldonado: 2-for-6
- Hernan Perez: 0-for-6
- Jonathan Villar: 2-for-4 with two walks
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 2-for-5 with one double
Zach Davies has pitched extremely well for the Brewers this season. Davies is coming off two excellent outings and the Cubs finally get another shot at him. Davies shut the Cubs down last season at Wrigley Field.
Davies limited the Nationals to two runs on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings before the break. Davies completed seven shutout innings in Cincinnati his last time out and limited Billy Hamilton and the Big Red Machine to four hits.
Zach Davies was 3-1 in six June starts with a 2.89 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. And in his last two starts, Davies is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Davies is 4-3 in 10 starts at Miller Park this season with a 3.79 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Tonight is his second career start against the Cubs.
Davies owned the Cubs last Sept. 23 at Wrigley Field. Davies allowed just two hits and walked one while striking out four in six innings. Davies made the playoff-bound Cubs look like minor leaguers that night. The Cubs must make Davies work and layoff his pitches.
Cubs Career Numbers against Zach Davies
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-3
- Javier Baez: 1-for-2
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-1 with one walk
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-2
- Addison Russell: 0-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …