Brewers at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs began August with three comfortable victories in a series sweep of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs brought out the brooms once again in their last set and aim to finish the month strong as they return home on Friday afternoon to open a three-game series against their National League Central rivals.
Victor Caratini belted a solo homer in the second inning and added a three-run shot in the seventh to highlight his three-hit performance as Chicago posted its eighth win in 11 outings with a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday. The 26-year-old has recorded multi-hit performances in three straight games and six runs scored in his last six contests for the Cubs, who strengthened their respective leads over idle Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the race for the second wild card. Reigning NL Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich is mired in a season-high 10-game stretch without a homer for the Brewers, although he hit three of his club-best 41 against Chicago in 2019. Keston Hiura went deep on Wednesday as Milwaukee prevented a three-game sweep with a 4-1 win over St. Louis, however the rookie is just 4-for-19 in the season series against the Cubs and 1-for-5 versus Friday starter Jose Quintana.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (6-3, 4.34 ERA) at Cubs LH Jose Quintana (11-8, 4.05)
Anderson recorded his first win since July 17 after scattering three hits over five innings in a 4-0 victory against Arizona on Saturday. The 31-year-old also picked up the win, albeit in relief, after permitting one run on one hit in three innings of Milwaukee's 13-10 victory versus Chicago on April 5 before walking away with a no-decision against the Cubs on July 27 after a two-run performance over five strong frames. Anderson has been rather generous on the road this season, allowing the opposition to bat .287 against him with a 5.40 ERA -- as opposed to .206 and 3.63 at Miller Park.
Quintana sustained his first loss in over two months and fell to 7-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his past 10 starts on Saturday after allowing five runs (four earned) in four innings of a 7-2 setback against Washington. The 30-year-old hasn't been singing a happy tune versus Milwaukee this season, surrendering eight runs in that April 5 outing and three more in both a 7-0 loss on May 10 and a no-decision on July 28. Despite those struggles, Quintana owns a 7-4 mark with a 2.82 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 15 career encounters with the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee 3B Hernan Perez s 6-for-18 with a pair of solo homers against Chicago this season.
2. Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters on Thursday that he "would be surprised" if 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) is able to return to lineup for the series opener against the Brewers.
3. Brewers 3B Mike Moustakas (wrist) is expected to play in the series, although the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that he may not be ready for Friday's game.