Article: Game Score: Brewers 4, Cubs 5

[Seth Stohs]

Corbin Burnes wasn’t in midseason form on Opening Day (as you would expect), and the Brewers were unable to come up with enough big hits and fell to the Cubs on Opening Day.

Box Score
SP: Corbin Burnes: 5.0 IP,4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (83 pitches, 48 strikes (57.8%))
Home Runs: None 
Bottom 3 WPA: Jake Cousins (-0.255), Kolten Wong (-0.155), Corbin Burnes (-0.138)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Bases on Balls for Burnes?
The 2021 season went remarkably well for Corbin Burnes. He became an All-Star for the first time, and after the season was named the National League’s Cy Young winner. 

Burnes began the 2021 season by striking out 58 batters before issuing his first walk on May 13th. Pretty remarkable. On Thursday afternoon, Burnes had a walk in the first inning and another one in the second inning without recording a strikeout. 

Then came the third inning. Burnes struck out the side and looked dominant as ever. He was strong in the fourth inning too.  

However, after the Brewers gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth, Burnes gave up two singles to start the inning. The Cubs scored on a sacrifice fly by Patrick Wisdom. It was followed by a two-run homer from Nico Hoerner. He got a second out, but then he walked a third batter before getting a pop up to end the inning. 

What to make of it? Well, nothing. It’s one game. Burnes clearly was not as sharp as he has been, and obviously will be. 

Old Guys Can Still Play 
35-year-old Andrew McCutchen has hit well against the Brewers. Over 159 career games against Milwaukee, he has hit .275/.349/.520 (.869) with 34 doubles and 36 home runs. That’s pretty good. 

On Thursday, he made his Brewers debut. He recorded the first hit of the season for the team, a double down the right-field line at 98 mph. In his next at-bat, he singled at 97 mph. He actually got out the third time, but he hit a 105 mph liner. He went 2-for-5 in the game. 

Lorenzo Cain, who turned 36 next week, had a 105 mph double, and he also hit a sacrifice fly that left the Brewers down just one run. 

STARTED OUT WELL
The Brewers got their leadoff hitter on every inning between the 2nd inning and the 8th inning, seven straight innings. However, they were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

What’s Next? 

The Brewers remain in Chicago for their second of four afternoon games in this series. Brandon Woodruff will be on the mound for the Brewers. The Cubs will send Justin Steele to oppose him.   

Postgame Interview 

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	TOT
Ashby	0	0	0	0	41	41
Boxberger	0	0	0	0	27	27
Cousins	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gott	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gustave	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hader	0	0	0	0	0	0
Milner	0	0	0	0	0	0
Suter	0	0	0	0	0	0
Urena	0	0	0	0	0	0
Williams	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

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