2018-09-12: Brewers (Anderson) at Cubs (Hendricks) 7:05 PM CDT [Brewers win, 5-1 -- Granderson 3-for-4 including 3B, HR]

[Eye Black]

[pre]Brewers Lineup Cubs Lineup

1. RF Curtis Granderson L 1. 2B Daniel Murphy L

2. LF Christian Yelich L 2. LF Kris Bryant R

3. CF Lorenzo Cain R 3. 1B Anthony Rizzo L

4. 2B Travis Shaw L 4. RF Ben Zobrist S

5. 3B Mike Moustakas L 5. 3B Javier Báez R

6. SS Hernán Pérez R 6. CF Albert Almora R

7. 1B Eric Thames L 7. C Willson Contreras R

8. C Manny Piña R 8. P Kyle Hendricks R

9. P Chase Anderson R 9. SS Addison Russell R

[/pre]

 

Link: Brewers Game Notes

 

 

Game is Televised on both ESPN and FOX Sports Wisconsin

[Pugger]

If we want any chance at the division this is almost a must win. Of course the Cubs have a brutal schedule without a break going forward so that will help us too.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If we want any chance at the division this is almost a must win. Of course the Cubs have a brutal schedule without a break going forward so that will help us too.

 

Last week's game 3 against the Cubs was a "must win" as well. They didn't win, and here we are, still in the thick of the division race. While today is certainly an important game, I don't think it's "do-or-die" quite yet. The Brewers are very hot, and the Cubs are scuffling with two weeks of games left to go. Those trends could change, but if they continue at all, the Brewers will stand a good shot at the division regardless of the outcome of today's game. If the Brewers take care of business against the Pirates and Reds, they'll be sitting quite nicely at this time next week.

[Dadbauer]

I've been thinking all along that the key to staying in the division is to just win series - Brewers have won their last 6 and getting this win tonight would be huge. Not "must-win" by all means, but it certainly feels like it.

[KeithStone53151]

I've been thinking all along that the key to staying in the division is to just win series - Brewers have won their last 6 and getting this win tonight would be huge. Not "must-win" by all means, but it certainly feels like it.

 

I think it's virtually must-win if we are going to get the division. 3 back with 15 and 17 games remaining is so much different than 1 back. I would guess the odds change by 30-40% depending on the outcome of this game.

 

We definitely can't win every game, and unfortunately yesterday was a bit of a clunker. I'd like to see a lineup of Cain, Yelich, Moose, Braun, Shaw, Schoop, Thames, Pina, P today. I could also understand Arcia for Schoop, sliding Thames and Pina forward a spot, or Arcia for Thames with Shaw playing 1b to keep the good defense in there. Nice that we should have all of our best relievers available today. I would guess Hader is only available for 1 inning today but otherwise fully available.

[stoutdude04]

Was hoping we could take yesterday's game since it feels like Hendricks is a pitcher who owns the Brewers. I haven't looked it up, but it sure feels that way.

 

Edit: Yep, about what I thought. Some pretty good numbers for Hendricks.

[KeithStone53151]

Was hoping we could take yesterday's game since it feels like Hendricks is a pitcher who owns the Brewers. I haven't looked it up, but it sure feels that way.

 

Quintana has been much better against the Brewers than Hendricks, though both have been good. I personally thought the matchup today was much better than yesterday. Anderson has had good games against the Cubs, and I was nervous about Chacin against all those LH bats. Couple that with Quintana being better against us than Hendricks. Here's hoping we can win today and keep it at 1 game for now.

[buckybrewer232]

Was hoping we could take yesterday's game since it feels like Hendricks is a pitcher who owns the Brewers. I haven't looked it up, but it sure feels that way.

 

Edit: Yep, about what I thought. Some pretty good numbers for Hendricks.

 

Hendricks has been good against the Brewers, but those numbers don't reflect having Moose and Granderson in the lineup for the Crew. Hoping Thames gets the start at 1st and Granderson in the OF.

[KeithStone53151]

Was hoping we could take yesterday's game since it feels like Hendricks is a pitcher who owns the Brewers. I haven't looked it up, but it sure feels that way.

 

Edit: Yep, about what I thought. Some pretty good numbers for Hendricks.

 

Hendricks has been good against the Brewers, but those numbers don't reflect having Moose and Granderson in the lineup for the Crew. Hoping Thames gets the start at 1st and Granderson in the OF.

 

Thames has a 929 OPS against Hendricks, Shaw 1157, Schoop 1500(limited ABs). Couple those 3 with Moose and Granderson could help a lot. All of Yelich, Cain, Braun, Perez, Santana, Broxton, and pina have pretty bad career numbers against Hendricks. Notably Cain is 0 for 12 career and Yelich 3 for 17. Hendricks change-up really neutralizes LHB to the point that he's equally effective against either side of the plate. I think it's important to stagger RH and LH as much as we can against him.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I wonder if this may be a night where we see Yelich in CF and Cain with a night off? I would think Thames at 1B, Shaw at 2B, Schoop at SS and Moose at 3B. Maybe Broxton gets an OF start with Yelich and Granderson, in which case Yelich plays LF with Broxton in CF and Grandy in RF. Would be good to have strong OF defense with Chase on the mound.

[Mays Hayes]

It's obviously not a true "must win" situation, 3 games back with 15 to go is doable... but this is a huge game. I hope the bats wake up.

[bucks2281]

With Chase’s HR problems, I sure hope the wind isn’t blowing out tonight

[tmwiese55]

I wonder if this may be a night where we see Yelich in CF and Cain with a night off? I would think Thames at 1B, Shaw at 2B, Schoop at SS and Moose at 3B. Maybe Broxton gets an OF start with Yelich and Granderson, in which case Yelich plays LF with Broxton in CF and Grandy in RF. Would be good to have strong OF defense with Chase on the mound.

 

Imagine the twittersphere and this site if they sit Cain in the biggest game of the year with a day off tomorrow.

[topper09er]

We are 3-2 in these last 5 games against the Cubs with only 1 too little too late Grandy HR. Hopefully tonight we knock a few out of the park and win this one.

[TURBO]

I know it is in vogue to say any certain game is not a must win, but this really feels like one to me.

 

At some point, there will be must win games, the sooner we get them out of the way the better.

 

Going into the last part of the season 1 game out is so much better than 3 games out, and this is the last chance to control our fate by playing the Cubs, the only team in front of us.

 

Cain can rest tomorrow, today we need him to be the Lorenzo Cain we all know and love.

[KeithStone53151]

I wonder if this may be a night where we see Yelich in CF and Cain with a night off? I would think Thames at 1B, Shaw at 2B, Schoop at SS and Moose at 3B. Maybe Broxton gets an OF start with Yelich and Granderson, in which case Yelich plays LF with Broxton in CF and Grandy in RF. Would be good to have strong OF defense with Chase on the mound.

 

Imagine the twittersphere and this site if they sit Cain in the biggest game of the year with a day off tomorrow.

 

Reminder, Cain is 0 for 12 career against Hendricks. That said, I still think you play him. If anything, sit Braun in favor of Granderson in LF. Or in favor of Broxton for elite OF defense with a flyball pitcher on the mound. He can be our 8 spot punted lineup spot with likely no Arcia today.

[wibadgers23]

A win today for the Brewers and another loss by the Dodgers and I’m feeling really good about clinching a playoff spot. They would be 5.5 up with 15 to go.

[pacopete4]

What I'd Like to See:

Cain CF

Yelich RF

Shaw 2B

Braun LF

Moustakas 3B

Thames 1B

Schoop SS

Pina C

Anderson P

 

 

Let's try to score some runs today!

[RollieTime]

I can understand why people say it’s not a “must win”, but it’s pretty close. If the Brewers end up 3 back after today, they would need to go something like 10-5 and the Cubs would need to go 8-9 to just tie for the division. It is pretty tough to expect something like that to occur. It is much easier winning the division being only 1 back than 3 with such few games remaining.

[istanbultaye]

I'm not a big proponent of "must win" terminology. It's significantly overused. However, though this game not a must win in terms of elimination or reducing our hopes to next to impossible in terms of division; this is definitely a stage in the season that the swing from winning or losing the game will make a big difference in our chances to to win the division, so I'm fine with this series/game being called must win for that.

[NievesNoNO]

No doubt this is an important one! Must win, maybe not but it's their last chance head to head so it's significant.

 

Something that I don't see mentioned very much is that if the Brewers do play well enough down the stretch to overtake the Cubs they have a very good probability of also having the best record in the NL. Despite what people might think about this team not necessarily being a Championship level team there's a REAL opportunity THIS season.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

No doubt this is an important one! Must win, maybe not but it's their last chance head to head so it's significant.

 

Something that I don't see mentioned very much is that if the Brewers do play well enough down the stretch to overtake the Cubs they have a very good probability of also having the best record in the NL. Despite what people might think about this team not necessarily being a Championship level team there's a REAL opportunity THIS season.

 

No doubt. This team has proven this year that they should be considered among the elite teams in the NL.

[AKCheesehead]

No doubt. This team has proven this year that they should be considered among the are an elite teams in the NL.

 

Fixed that for ya

[torts]

is this a must win?

[pacopete4]

is this a must win?

 

If we lose, yes. But if we win, no. I hope that clears it up.