Cubs v. Brewers – Series Preview: August 16-18; TV Info, Pitching Match-ups, More
The Chicago Cubs (73-43) have been solid so far this month, winning 10-of-12 games and putting considerable distance between themselves and the rest of the division. They enter the series against the Brewers with the best record in baseball and are the only team currently with a winning percentage above .600, at .629.
This series looms large in the Cubs’ quest to run away with the division. They play a four-game set against the reeling Brewers, who find themselves 21.0 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs have handled the Brewers pretty well so far this season with a 5-3 record to date.
Game times and broadcast info
- Tuesday, August 16, 12:20 PM CDT on WGN
- Tuesday, August 15, 7:05 PM CDT on WPWR
- Wednesday, August 16, 7:05 PM CDT on CSN
- Thursday, August 17, 1:20 PM CDT on CSN
Starting pitchers
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | K/BB |
| 8/16 | Trevor Cahill | 28 | R | 3.07 | 1-3 | 1.92 |
| Matt Garza | 32 | R | 4.83 | 4-4 | 1.55 | |
| 8/16 | Jason Hammel | 33 | R | 2.90 | 12-5 | 2.72 |
| Chase Anderson | 28 | R | 4.93 | 7-10 | 2.17 | |
| 8/17 | Jon Lester | 32 | L | 2.93 | 12-4 | 3.56 |
| Jimmy Nelson | 27 | R | 4.07 | 6-12 | 1.66 | |
| 8/18 | Jake Arrieta | 30 | R | 2.55 | 14-5 | 2.87 |
| Zach Davies | 23 | R | 3.80 | 9-5 | 3.20 |
What to watch for
- This is only the second time this season that the Cubs will play the Brewers at home. They’ve won both games played at Wrigley – the third game was postponed and is being replayed as the top half of a double dip on Tuesday.
- This is the final series in a 10-game home stand before the Cubs head on the road for nine games, the first six of which are against sub-.500 teams. This is the beginning of a stretch where the Cubs, if they stay focused, can put the division away.
- Trevor Cahill will be making the spot-start in the first game of the Tuesday double-header. He’s been added as the 26th man on the roster since each team can add a roster spot Tuesday due to the double-header. He hasn’t started a regular season game for the Cubs since he came over on a minor league deal in August 2015, after opting out of his contract with the Dodgers. He’s been on rehab assignment since July 18, following his DL stint for a right knee injury.
- To say Jason Heyward has been struggling this season would be a major understatement. Sure, he’s got a three-game hitting streak heading into this series, and that sounds good, until you dig deeper. He’s had more than one hit in one game since July 9th, that’s over a month. He’s going up against four sub-par righties in this series so if there was ever a time for Jason to break out, now is it.