Cubs at Brewers
Back-to-back shutouts are no reason for the Milwaukee Brewers to panic, as the Chicago Cubs showed them first-hand. The Brewers will try to follow the Cubs’ lead and break out of their offensive slump when the National League Central rivals continue their four-game series Friday in Milwaukee.
The Cubs had been blanked in two straight games before routing the Brewers 8-0 in the series opener. Every starting position player except slumping first baseman Anthony Rizzo recorded at least one hit for Chicago. Milwaukee continued its roller-coaster start, as Jesus Aguilar accounted for three of the team’s four hits a day after the Brewers were shut out on five hits in their series finale against St. Louis. Things went from bad to worse for the Brewers in the ninth inning Thursday as closer Corey Knebel allowed a two-run homer by Jason Heyward before suffering a left hamstring injury that will send him to the disabled list.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago Plus, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 5.40)
Hendricks was sharp in his season debut, holding Miami to one run and four hits with five strikeouts over six frames, but the Cubs lost in 17 innings. The 28-year-old has allowed three or fewer runs in 14 straight starts dating to July. Hendricks is 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 15 career turns against the Brewers, including a 4-1 mark and 2.31 ERA in eight outings at Miller Park.
Woodruff has made two relief appearances to stay sharp until the Brewers needed a fifth starter, allowing two runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old went 2-3 with a 4.81 ERA in eight turns last season after being recalled from the minors in August. He faced the Cubs in his penultimate outing of 2017, allowing four runs and five hits over five frames in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have scored 26 runs in their three wins and one in their three losses.
2. Brewers 3B Travis Shaw, who had hit safely in all six games before he went 0-for-3 and was ejected for arguing a called third strike on Thursday, is 4-for-12 with two homers versus Hendricks.
3. Milwaukee LF Christian Yelich sat out Thursday with a tight right oblique and remains day-to-day.