Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Cubs (89-49) vs. Brewers (61-77)
- Game Time – 7:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Mike Montgomery, LHP (4-5, 2.80/1.21/3.75) vs. Matt Garza, RHP (5-6, 4.57/1.52/4.44)
The Cubs take on the Brewers at Miller Park for the final time this season with a chance of winning the series in the rubber game behind Mike Montgomery. The Cubs are 4-4 in Milwaukee this year and Meat Loaf on the flight to Houston is a must at this point.
With a win tonight, the Cubs will spend Thursday’s off day with as the first team in the big leagues with 90 victories on the season and one step closer to a division title.
Mike Montgomery makes his fourth start with the Cubs and will have the pleasure of facing former Cubs’ right-hander Matt Garza.
Joe Maddon scheduled a day off for Anthony Rizzo tonight. If Rizzo doesn’t talk his way into the lineup, it would benefit the Cubs for Maddon to load the top of his lineup with the best bunters he has on the team. Even if the Cubs cannot reach base, just rattling Garza early and not allowing him to settle in will improve their chances of winning the game.
Tonight all starts with Mike Montgomery …
Mike Montgomery makes his fourth straight start tonight. And Montgomery could really use a good outing.
Montgomery was rather impressive in his first start with the Cubs at Coors Field. Montgomery struggled but did not allow the game get away from him at Dodger Stadium. His last start against the Giants, Montgomery had very little command and completed only four innings. The Cubs really like Montgomery and see him as a starter moving forward. Montgomery needs to find the strike zone today and execute every pitch, two things he hasn’t done the last two times out.
The Cubs are 3-0 in Montgomery’s last three starts, which is the most important stat. And Montgomery is 1-1 in 10 games, three starts, with a 4.09 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 5.29 FIP with the Cubs.
Mike Montgomery makes his third appearance against the Brewers tonight, first start. Montgomery has allowed one run on two hits (one, a big home run off the bat of Kirk Nieuwenhuis) with a walk and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings (3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP). Tonight is Montgomery’s first career start against the Brewers.
Brewers Career Numbers against Mike Montgomery
- Chris Carter: 1-for-3
- Jake Elmore: 1-for-3 with one walk
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 1-for-2 with one home run
- Hernan Perez: 0-for-1
- Orlando Arcia: One Walk
- Keon Broxton: 0-for-1
- Jonathan Villar: 0-for-1
The Cubs get to face Matt Garza for the second time in a month. Garza really struggled against the Mariners and Pirates after he pitched against the Cubs at Wrigley on Aug. 16. Garza shut down the Cardinals in his last start. Garza limited the Redbirds to one run on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Matt Garza is 3-2 in his last six starts with a 3.51 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.
It will be an interesting game regardless of which Matt Garza shows up.
Tonight is Garza’s second start of the season against the Cubs. Garza lasted five innings at Wrigley in a 4-0 Cubs win. Garza gave up three runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. For his career, Garza is 1-4 in seven starts against the Cubs with a 4.29 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Matt Garza
- Miguel Montero: 9-for-23 with one double, one home run and three walks
- Chris Coghlan: 6-for-20 with four doubles, one triple and one walk
- Jason Heyward: 3-for-20 with two home runs
- Dexter Fowler: 3-for-12 with one double and six walks
- Anthony Rizzo: 6-for-18 with one home run
- Kris Bryant: 1-for-10 with one home run and one walk
- Jorge Soler: 3-for-11 with one double
- Addison Russell: 1-for-7 with one walk
- Ben Zobrist: 3-for-7 with one home run and two walks
- Javier Baez: 1-for-2 with one double
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …