2014-09-02 Brewers (Gallardo) at Cubs (Arrieta), 7:05 PM CDT

[TooLiveBrew]

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/brewers.png[/logo][game-info][h1]September 2 | 7:05 P.M.[/h1][h2]Brewers (73-64) | Cubs (62-76)[/h2][h3]FSWI | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/cubs.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://i.imgur.com/UpD7ynl.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3vaSCVU.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][pitcher]Yovani Gallardo[/pitcher][h2]8-7, 3.26 ERA, 1.24 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Cubs | Game Log[/h3][h3]Gallardo was in line to win after working six hard-fought innings against the Padres last week, but a lead escaped Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning. He's 9-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 career starts against the Cubs.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][pitcher]Jake Arrieta[/pitcher][h2]7-5, 2.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]Arrieta didn't have his command in his last start vs. the Reds, and he threw 96 pitches over four innings, matching his shortest outing of the year. He gave up six runs for the second time this season. The Reds also stole six bases against him.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away]

1. 2B Scooter Gennett
   
2. C Jonathan Lucroy
   
3. RF Ryan Braun
   
4. 3B Aramis Ramírez
   
5. LF Khris Davis
   
6. CF Gerardo Parra
   
7. 1B Lyle Overbay
   
8. SS Elián Herrera
   
9. RHP Yovani Gallardo

[/divclass][divclass=home]

1. LF Chris Coghlan
   
2. 2B Javier Báez
   
3. SS Starlin Castro
   
4. 3B Luis Valbuena
   
5. RF Jorge Soler
   
6. C Welington Castillo
   
7. CF Arismendy Alcántara
   
8. 1B Chris Valaika
   
9. RHP Jake Arrieta

[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

[TooLiveBrew]

Cubs look to play spoiler as Brewers eye first place

Crew hopes Gallardo can end skid vs. Cubs ace Arrieta at Wrigley Field

By Adam Lichtenstein / MLB.com | 9/1/2014 6:30 PM ET

 

In contest between a division leader and a last-place club on Monday, the the fifth-place club came out ahead, as the Cubs defeated the then-first-place Brewers.

 

Chicago will look to continue to play spoiler on Tuesday in the second of three games against Milwaukee when they send Jake Arrieta to the hill against Yovani Gallardo.

 

The Cubs' schedule going forward will give them many opportunities to alter other teams' playoff hopes, as they play the Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals and Dodgers this month, all of which are looking for a spot in the playoffs.

 

The Brewers, on the other hand, are just looking to hold on to their spot.

 

Milwaukee has had at least a share of first place in the National League Central every day since April 5, but after the Cardinals defeated the Pirates and the Cubs held on to win, the Brewers fell out of first.

 

The Brewers hope Gallardo can be the stopper they need. Over his last four starts, Gallardo boasts a 1.73 ERA. In his last start on Sunday against the Padres he tossed six shutout innings, but ended up with a no-decision in the 3-2 loss.

 

In the meantime, the Cubs are using this last month get a look at their future, giving Major League opportunities to players like Javier Baez and Jorge Soler.

 

"You're competing against them and getting your eyes on the club and seeing how they're performing, what is it they're doing," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "It'd be foolish for anyone to face clubs that are doing well and not take a step back and try to understand what's making them tick.

 

"Maybe there are things we see that we can share with them, or they see, and say, 'Hey, this guy did that pretty good' or 'That was a pretty good at-bat.' You're always learning. It's good to see it. ... Ultimately, how we take this challenge for the next month will be really important and we can get a lot of knowledge from it."

 

While the young players are getting the most attention, Arrieta is putting together an impressive year in his fifth big league season. The right-hander is 7-5 with a 2.88 ERA in his second season with the Cubs. While he struggled in his last outing against the Reds, he looked strong when he faced the Brewers on Aug. 11. He gave up two earned runs over 7 1/3 frames in the tough-luck loss.

 

Cubs: Rizzo sits again

First baseman Anthony Rizzo missed Monday's game, sitting out his sixth straight day due to lower back tightness.

 

Rizzo left the Cubs' game against the Reds on Aug. 25 after a rain delay and hasn't played since.

 

"He's still day to day, he's still a little stiff," Renteria said on Monday. "If it doesn't clear up, maybe we'll get an MRI to make sure everything's OK.

 

"He's doing fine. We're just limiting him to make sure once he gets back on the field he doesn't have a setback."

 

Rizzo, who was named to his first All-Star Game in July, leads the team in home runs (30) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.889).

 

Brewers: Gomez out with wrist injury

Outfielder Carlos Gomez was out of the Brewers' lineup on Monday after he left Sunday's game against the Giants with a left wrist injury.

 

Although manager Ron Roenicke said X-rays of Gomez's wrist were negative, he added that Gomez would likely also have his wrist looked at in an MRI.

 

I'm encouraged today," Roenicke said. "You would think if it was really bad, it'd be worse today than it was yesterday."

 

However, Roenicke indicated that Gomez would miss more than one game.

 

"Hand or wrist is not good for him," Roenicke said. "There's no easing back on swings, and the way he plays, his whole game depends on him being physically close to 100 percent."

 

Worth noting

• With rosters expanding and Triple-A Iowa's season ending on Monday, the Cubs plan to call up six players to join the team, though Renteria did not reveal who those players would be.

[Pugger]

Maybe its a good thing I won't be home to watch the game tonight. *sigh*

[bm1090]

About as close to a must win as can be tonight.

 

If you would have told me we'd be a 1.5 games up on the WC on September 2nd I would have taken it in a heartbeat, but given the play lately they really need to figure things out

[jason21nl]

I saw in the IGT yesterday that if they lose today they'll have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. How did you find that information?

[adambr2]

I saw in the IGT yesterday that if they lose today they'll have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. How did you find that information?

 

That had to be in the NL Central, there's no way they have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. The Rockies were 16-12 at that point and are now 28 games under .500.

[TheCrew07]

I saw in the IGT yesterday that if they lose today they'll have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. How did you find that information?

 

Baseball-Reference.com is pretty awesome for that kind of stuff, here's the May 1st chart.

 

Here's the link to the search.

[TheCrew07]

I believe the original poster said since they went 20-7... the Brewers have fewer wins but a higher winning percentage because the Cubs played more games.

 

Here's the April 28th chart.

 

edit. corrected myself.

[DocLuna7]

Maybe the Brewers will shuffle the lineup around a bit tonight and play a few of the younger recent call-ups. Can't hurt at this point.

[jason21nl]

I saw in the IGT yesterday that if they lose today they'll have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. How did you find that information?

 

That had to be in the NL Central, there's no way they have the worst record in the NL since their hot start. The Rockies were 16-12 at that point and are now 28 games under .500.

 

 

You're right it is in the NL Central. I totally read it wrong. Thanks guys!

[PrinceFielderx1]

They better run everything out when going to 1B. Show effort.

[markedman5]

Maybe the Brewers will shuffle the lineup around a bit tonight and play a few of the younger recent call-ups. Can't hurt at this point.

 

You forgot who are manager is.....

 

The Brewer Nation ‏@BrewerNation 5m

Tonight's #Brewers lineup:

 

2B Gennett

C Lucroy

RF Braun

3B Ramirez

LF Davis

CF Parra

1B Overbay

SS Herrera

P Gallardo

[DocLuna7]

Maybe the Brewers will shuffle the lineup around a bit tonight and play a few of the younger recent call-ups. Can't hurt at this point.

 

You forgot who are manager is.....

 

The Brewer Nation ‏@BrewerNation 5m

Tonight's #Brewers lineup:

 

2B Gennett

C Lucroy

RF Braun

3B Ramirez

LF Davis

CF Parra

1B Overbay

SS Herrera

P Gallardo

 

 

Haha, blind hope I guess. Figured it seems to be working pretty well for the Cubs.

[folly412]

Well, no Reynolds and Segura is a plus. Enough to make me think we might actually win a game tonight.

[Lee16]

Gomez out for another week+, oh well.

[Bombers]

Let's get it going early Brewers!! We need to right this ship!

[brewcrewdue80]

I believe the original poster said since they went 20-7... the Brewers have fewer wins but a higher winning percentage because the Cubs played more games.

 

Here's the April 28th chart.

 

edit. corrected myself.

 

 

Yep. That's amazing that Anaheim has 70wins since Milwaukee started 20-7. 17games better than us since that start!

 

Comes out to being basically 8th-15th worst in Baseball by a game or 2. Or being exactly the same team we were last season.

 

Which finished 15-12 in Sept! To spin it positively!

 

And my mention was that if we lost today we'd have the worst record in the Central since starting 20-7.

[sauveb]

It looks like there are plenty of good seats still available at Wrigley.

[AZBrewCrew]

[attachment=0]Boy-that-escalated-quickly.jpg[/attachment]

[coolcool]

We suck.

[sauveb]

At least Gallardo got one out before he caved.

[rondoman]

Khris Davis arm is laughable.

[markedman5]

So down 2-0 in the first......needed Gallardo to come up big and he puts our anemic offense in an early hole

[rondoman]

This team is pathetic.

[sauveb]

Only 80 more pitches to go before RR can take him out.