Brewers at Cubs
The Milwaukee Brewers take an eight-game winning streak into a big four-game road series against the Chicago Cubs starting Thursday. The Cubs took three of four at Milwaukee earlier this month, and the Brewers would love to return the favor to their National League Central rivals.
Milwaukee’s pitching has been outstanding during the winning streak, allowing three runs or fewer in seven of the last eight games. Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson will try to keep it going when he gets his second crack at the Cubs this season after ending up on the wrong end of a 3-0 loss April 8. The Cubs split two games at Cleveland and have won four of their last six. Star third baseman Kris Bryant missed both games in Cleveland after leaving Sunday’s contest at Colorado when he was hit in the helmet with a German Marquez fastball, but Chicago manager Joe Maddon indicated Bryant could be back in the lineup Thursday.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Chicago Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2-1, 3.25 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 4.09)
Anderson has won his last two starts after going winless in his first three outings. The 30-year-old gave up a pair of home runs but not much else in a win over Miami last time out, allowing three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs.
Hendricks picked up his first win of the season Friday at Colorado, allowing three runs and five hits over five innings. The 28-year-old did not issue a walk after allowing seven in his first three starts, but he did give up his fifth homer of the season. Hendricks is 6-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 16 meetings with the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers placed 1B Eric Thames on the disabled list Wednesday with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and recalled RHP Brandon Woodruff.
2. Cubs 2B/OF Ben Zobrist is 9-for-17 with three homers against Anderson.
3. Chicago 2B Javier Baez (17-for-39) and CF Albert Almora Jr. (14-for-36) are riding eight-game hitting streaks.