Cubs vs Brewers Series Preview (April 5-7): TV and Game Info, Starting Pitchers, Insights
The Cubs shook off a poor Opening Day effort to take their series from the Pirates with two wins that featured solid starting pitching efforts and just enough hitting to make them hold up. Now Chicago welcomes their bitter rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers, to Wrigley for a three-game series starting Monday.
The Brewers opened their season dropping two of three to the Minnesota Twins after winning narrowly on Opening Day. They return mostly the same team as in 2020, other than signing Kolten Wong from the Cardinals. Keston Hiura broke out last year and odds are Christian Yelich isn’t one of the worst hitters in baseball for a second consecutive season.
Fireballers Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes anchor Milwaukee’s rotation and Josh Hader is still the closer, but changeup artist Devin Williams may be a better reliever in 2021. The Brewers are going to be a big factor in the NL Central and they see the Cubs nine times in April. These games are a big test of Chicago’s division title hopes, which are very much alive despite how things looked in December.
Game Time and Broadcast Info
- Monday, April 5 at 6:40pm CT on Marquee
- Tuesday, April 6 at 6:40pm CT on Marquee
- Wednesday, April 7 at 1:20pm CT on Marquee
Starting Pitchers (2020 statistics)
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | FIP | K/BB |
| 4/5 | Trevor Williams | 28 | R | 6.18 | 2-8 | 6.30 | 2.33 |
| Brett Anderson | 33 | L | 4.21 | 4-4 | 4.38 | 3.20 | |
| 4/6 | Adbert Alzolay | 25 | R | 2.95 | 1-1 | 3.05 | 2.23 |
| Freddy Peralta | 24 | R | 3.99 | 3-1 | 2.41 | 3.92 | |
| 4/7 | Kyle Hendricks | 31 | R | 2.88 | 6-5 | 3.55 | 8.00 |
| Brandon Woodruff | 28 | R | 3.05 | 3-5 | 3.20 | 5.06 |
What to Watch For
- Hendricks had uncharacteristically iffy control in his first start. Hopefully the cold weather just messed with his grip and he’s locked back in Wednesday.
- Kris Bryant had some good contact against the Pirates, including a double and a home run.
- Craig Kimbrel has struck out five of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings. That’s a development that would lower everyone’s 9th inning blood pressure if it continues.
