2019-04-05: Cubs (Quintana) at Brewers (Woodruff) [Brewers win, 13-10 -- Brewers tee off on Quintana early en route to tallying 15 hits and 5 HRs in slugfest]

[Eye Black]

[pre]Cubs Lineup Brewers Lineup

1. Ben Zobrist (S) RF 1. Lorenzo Cain ® CF

2. Kris Bryant ® 3B 2. Christian Yelich (L) RF

3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B 3. Ryan Braun ® LF

4. Javier Baez ® SS 4. Jesus Aguilar ® 1B

5. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF 5. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B

6. Willson Contreras ® C 6. Hernan Perez ® 2B

7. Daniel Descalso (L) 2B 7. Yasmani Grandal (S) C

8. Jason Heyward (L) CF 8. Orlando Arcia ® SS

9. Jose Quintana ® P 9. Brandon Woodruff (L) P[/pre]

 

Brandon Woodruff: Batter (Cubs) vs Pitching Stats

 

José Quintana: Batter (Brewers) vs Pitching Stats

[TURBO]

I'm always a little nervous for the first Cubs game of the season. Not sure if it is nerves, or giddiness...

[Ennder]

We never seem to do well against Quintana either.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Kinda expecting a hiccup series. Cubs have to start winning more than 20% of their games eventually and we've been abnormally lucky.

[Pugger]

From everything I've been hearing their bullpen isn't very good. Hopefully we can take advantage of that this weekend.

[liveforoctober]

Gosh that 1-5 start for the Cubs is fun to see. Would be such a nice start to the season if we can take 2 of 3 here.

 

I am expecting Perez to get a start either tonight or tomorrow (both?) against the LHP. FWIW, Travis Shaw is 1-16 lifetime against Quintana... Perez is 8-25 (.320). Moustakas is .250 lifetime against him. Tomorrow against Hamels, Perez is 6-11 (.545) ... neither Shaw or Moose have faced him.

 

Might be a good time to get a few at bats for Hernan.

[MadScientist]

Kinda expecting a hiccup series. Cubs have to start winning more than 20% of their games eventually and we've been abnormally lucky.

Luck favors the well prepared.

 

Just get an early lead and have Quintana start pressing because the bullpen has been so bad.

[brwrsfan]

I know they align it that way on purpose, but it would be nice to not have to face Quintana all the time. It would also be nice if the Brewers could get it out of their head that he's amazing or whatever the deal is. He's been fine but if you take out the games against the Brewers, he's been pretty average overall.

[Greenleaf1]

Cubs offense has been potent, so despite their troubles our offense is going to need to wake up a bit to win this series and I'm not sure I like our chances against Quintana.

 

I'd say any chance for a win tonight involves Woodruff pitching well enough to keep it close until we get to the Cubs bullpen and then hope for the best.

[Underachiever]

I'll be there! first game in person this year. Can't wait!

[MVP2110]

Gosh that 1-5 start for the Cubs is fun to see. Would be such a nice start to the season if we can take 2 of 3 here.

 

I am expecting Perez to get a start either tonight or tomorrow (both?) against the LHP. FWIW, Travis Shaw is 1-16 lifetime against Quintana... Perez is 8-25 (.320). Moustakas is .250 lifetime against him. Tomorrow against Hamels, Perez is 6-11 (.545) ... neither Shaw or Moose have faced him.

 

Might be a good time to get a few at bats for Hernan.

 

Really curious to see the lineups this weekend. Does Shaw get both days off? Do Shaw & Moose each get a day off? If Perez does start for Shaw does he play 2nd & Moose play 3rd?

[Roderick]

Gosh that 1-5 start for the Cubs is fun to see. Would be such a nice start to the season if we can take 2 of 3 here.

 

I am expecting Perez to get a start either tonight or tomorrow (both?) against the LHP. FWIW, Travis Shaw is 1-16 lifetime against Quintana... Perez is 8-25 (.320). Moustakas is .250 lifetime against him. Tomorrow against Hamels, Perez is 6-11 (.545) ... neither Shaw or Moose have faced him.

 

Might be a good time to get a few at bats for Hernan.

 

Really curious to see the lineups this weekend. Does Shaw get both days off? Do Shaw & Moose each get a day off? If Perez does start for Shaw does he play 2nd & Moose play 3rd?

 

My guesses: Shaw and Moose each get one day off. Moose to 3B when Shaw out or at 1B.

[KeithStone53151]

Yeah I'm expecting Shaw to sit today. Cain, Yelich, Braun, Aguilar, Grandal, Moose, Perez, Arcia, P. That's the lineup I'm anticipating today.

[topper09er]

Quintana career VS MIL

 

                                                            
Split                     W L  ERA GS CG SHO  IP     H ER HR BB SO
Milwaukee Brewers 6 2 1.62 11  1   1       72.1 46 13  5  15 67

[Eye Black]

Let me preface with the fact that the following may prove to just be a dumb over generalization based on pitcher and batter handedness.

 

My Mildly Warm Take: I get the sense that as the rosters are currently constructed the Cubs will have success head-to-head against the Brewers this season (as in win the season series), but that the Brewers will have better success against the rest of the teams in the NL Central as compared to the Cubs versus those same teams.

[long ball]

Like others have said, Quintana is always tough on the Brewers, but maybe with a bit of a revamped line up they'll be able to change that around. Bats need to break out a bit this weekend.

 

I'd be surprised if Shaw and/or Moustakas don't get a day off with LHPs starting the next two days. I would think Perez plays 2nd and Moustakas slides to third in that scenario.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Sure would be nice to be able to throw Hiura out there against Quintana tonight but it definitely makes sense to buy that every year of control. This is also why I have zero doubt he'll be up once the Super Two passes.

[Patrick425]

Yeah I'm expecting Shaw to sit today. Cain, Yelich, Braun, Aguilar, Grandal, Moose, Perez, Arcia, P. That's the lineup I'm anticipating today.

 

 

I'm surprised at how little they have used Perez so far this year, even as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.

[Roderick]

Sure would be nice to be able to throw Hiura out there against Quintana tonight but it definitely makes sense to buy that every year of control. This is also why I have zero doubt he'll be up once the Super Two passes.

 

Not unless Eric Aguilar and Jesus Thames suck enough to bring him up. Otherwise who are you benching? You aren't bringing him up to pinch hit.

[MVP2110]

Sure would be nice to be able to throw Hiura out there against Quintana tonight but it definitely makes sense to buy that every year of control. This is also why I have zero doubt he'll be up once the Super Two passes.

 

Not unless Eric Aguilar and Jesus Thames suck enough to bring him up. Otherwise who are you benching? You aren't bringing him up to pinch hit.

 

Start him every game against lefties, starting him against about half of righties too giving Aguilar a day off or filling in for injuries when needed. Not worried about stealing Thames ab's

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Sure would be nice to be able to throw Hiura out there against Quintana tonight but it definitely makes sense to buy that every year of control. This is also why I have zero doubt he'll be up once the Super Two passes.

 

Not unless Eric Aguilar and Jesus Thames suck enough to bring him up. Otherwise who are you benching? You aren't bringing him up to pinch hit.

 

Have you not seen how the Brewers play matchups? They build in 1-2 off days a week for just about everyone but Cain and Yelich. There are plenty of ABs to go around.

[Oxy]

 

Have you not seen how the Brewers play matchups? They build in 1-2 off days a week for just about everyone but Cain and Yelich. There are plenty of ABs to go around.

 

As it should be. If Gamel proves to be average or better in CF (and at the plate), I'd think LoCain could see a few more off days as well. He's not young. The fresher we can keep our regulars/veterans and the sharper we can keep our bench bats, the better it will be for everybody come August and September....and October

[82brewcrew82]

I'd trade Thames for whatever you can get the second Hiura is past S2. Shaw can always play some first when need.

[TURBO]

Yeah I'm expecting Shaw to sit today. Cain, Yelich, Braun, Aguilar, Grandal, Moose, Perez, Arcia, P. That's the lineup I'm anticipating today.

 

 

I'm surprised at how little they have used Perez so far this year, even as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.

 

I like it!

[BruisedCrew]

I don’t think Thames will last the season with the Brewers unless Aguilar gets hurt or goes in the tank.