Brewers at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs seem to have found the solution to their spotty offensive production - playing the Milwaukee Brewers. After winning two straight low-scoring affairs, the Cubs will try to continue their dominance of the visiting Brewers in the third of a four-game series Saturday.
Chicago’s pitching has been outstanding in six games against Milwaukee, allowing only eight earned runs and posting a 1.35 ERA, after limiting the Brewers to four hits in a 3-2 win Friday. Left-hander Jose Quintana will try to shut down Milwaukee again after throwing six innings of three-hit ball in a 3-0 win April 8 in Milwaukee. The Brewers had won eight straight entering the series, but they’re 1-5 against Chicago and 15-6 against everyone else. The Cubs are still awaiting the return of star third baseman Kris Bryant, who has missed four straight games since being hit in the helmet with a pitch Sunday at Colorado.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), ABC 7 (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Junior Guerra (2-0, 0.56 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (2-1, 7.78)
Guerra began the season in the minors but has given the Brewers three solid outings since being recalled. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has allowed only two runs (one earned) in 16 innings, but he has yet to get through six innings. Guerra is 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six games (three starts) against the Cubs but is making his first start at Wrigley Field.
Quintana has put together only one strong performance in his first four outings of the season, but the Cubs have won three of his four starts. The 29-year-old Colombian commanded the strike zone better than he has all season Sunday, issuing only one walk after allowing 10 in his first three starts, but he gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings in a win at Colorado. Quintana is 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA in five starts against the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago 2B Javier Baez (19-for-46) and CF Albert Almora Jr. (16-for-43) are riding career-high 10-game hitting streaks - the first Cubs teammates with simultaneous double-digit streaks since Aramis Ramirez and Starlin Castro in 2011.
2. Milwaukee relievers have not allowed an earned run in 32 innings.
3. The Cubs have scored multiple runs in the first inning in five of their last eight games.