Game One Hundred Forty-Six: Cubs (93-52) vs. Brewers (65-81)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Mike Montgomery, LHP (4-5, 2.74/1.19/3.78) vs. Jimmy Nelson, RHP (7-14, 4.42/1.50/5.03)
The Cubs begin a 10-game homestand tonight with the first of four against the Brewers. And for Joe Maddon’s team, it is simple. A win tonight and the Cubs are the 2016 NL Central Division Champions.
The Cubs clinched a spot in the postseason and at least a tie for first place in the division with Wednesday’s victory in St. Louis. Now it’s time for the Cubs to win the central.
The Cubs will make consecutive appearances in the postseason for the fourth time in franchise history (1885-86, 1906-08, 2007-08, 2015-16). The Cubs are one win, or a Cardinals loss, away from the first division championship since 2008.
The Cubs are sending Mike Montgomery to the hill tonight. Montgomery is making his fifth start since coming to the Cubs from the Mariners. Montgomery was pushed back a day in order for Jon Lester to pitch the finale in St. Louis. Montgomery is expected to make one more start before the end of the regular season.
After tonight’s matchup of Montgomery and Jimmy Nelson, John Lackey is scheduled to face righty Chase Anderson on Friday afternoon (1:20pm CDT). Jake Arrieta and right-hander Zach Davies square off on Saturday afternoon (3:05pm CDT) and the series wraps on Sunday (1:20pm CDT) with Kyle Hendricks taking on veteran righty Wily Peralta.
The Cubs are 10-5 on the season against the Brewers, 6-0 at Wrigley Field.
Tonight all starts with Mike Montgomery …
Mike Montgomery makes his fifth straight start tonight. Montgomery last pitched eight days ago against the Brewers at Miller Park. Montgomery put the Cubs in a position to win the game. Montgomery gave up one run on two hits in five innings. Montgomery walked two and struck out six. Montgomery’s only mistake, a solo homer by Jonathan Villar. The Cubs lost the game 2-1 after Villar took Joe Smith deep in the eighth.
The Cubs must make Villar a little uncomfortable at the plate tonight.
The Cubs are 3-1 in Montgomery’s last four starts. And Maddon would like to get at least five innings from him tonight in what could be his last start of the season.
With the Cubs, Montgomery is 1-1 in 11 games, four starts with a 3.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. In 27 innings, Montgomery has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, on 23 hits (four home runs) with 16 walks and 29 strikeouts.
Montgomery is 1-0 in six games, one start, at Wrigley this season with a 3.00 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Monty has allowed five runs, four earned, on 11 hits with eight walks and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Tonight is Montgomery’s fourth appearance against the Brewers and second start. Mike Montgomery has allowed two runs on four hits (two home runs) with three walks and nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings (2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP).
Brewers Career Numbers against Mike Montgomery
- Chris Carter: 1-for-5
- Jake Elmore: 1-for-3 with one walk
- Hernan Perez: 0-for-4
- Orlando Arcia: 0-for-1 with two walks
- Keon Broxton: 0-for-3
- Manny Pina: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Andrew Susac: 1-for-3
- Jonathan Villar: 1-for-3 with one home run
- Ryan Braun: 1-for-2
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 1-for-2 with one home run
- Domingo Santana: 0-for-2
- Scooter Gennett: 0-for-1
Jimmy Nelson is coming off a rough outing against the Cardinals. Nelson gave up four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Nelson has all of the talent and stuff to be very successful in the big leagues. Nelson has struggled with consistency in the majors and that’s continued this year. Nelson will have very good games followed by real clunkers.
Nelson is 0-1 in his last two starts with a 3.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. And over his last 11 starts, Nelson is 2-7 with a 5.95 ERA and 1.75 WHIP.
Nelson makes his fifth start of the season against the Cubs tonight. Nelson is 0-3 in the first four with a 3.57 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. At Wrigley, 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP … on the road this year, Nelson is 2-8 in 14 starts with a 5.94 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.
For his career, Jimmy Nelson is 0-6 in 11 games, nine starts, against the Cubs with a 3.59 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
Cubs Numbers against Jimmy Nelson in 2016
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-7 with one double, one home run and four walks
- Kris Bryant: 4-for-10 with two doubles
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-11
- Ben Zobrist: 3-for-8 with three walks
- Jason Heyward: 1-for-11 with one double
- Addison Russell: 2-for-10
- David Ross: 1-for-5 with one home run and one walk
- Jorge Soler: 2-for-5 with one home run and one walk
- Tommy La Stella: 1-for-3 with one double and one walk
- Willson Contreras: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-1 with one walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …