CHICAGO – Christian Yelich knows exactly when visitors’ clubhouse opens on Monday, he’ll hear the first question from reporters before the four-day, four-day series between the Brewers and the Cubs. For weeks, observers from the Central League of Nations have hovered the observer on the calendar.
“You guys are so good?”
“Like, keep saying it,” Jelich said with a smile. “You think we're not good.”
He was not angry about it. Now, there is no reason to be angry, the winemakers haven't ridden the best heater in franchise history – 53 wins in the last 70 games and 29 wins in the last 34 games even after a 14-game streak ended Sunday.
“I get it,” Jelich said. “You pulled up our starting lineup – if you don't always look at us, you don't understand. We don't mind.”
“They are a good team,” said Bears outfielder Ian Happ. “They play basic baseball. Their base is good. They play very well. They pitch. So for us, we have to go out and play games, really sound and basic.”
For the winemakers, it adds up to be the best overall record for baseball, the best home record (with the Blue Jays), the best road record and the best running difference, and a new storyline ahead of this highly anticipated series that kicks off on Monday’s Split Dual. The Cubs led the season-high 6 1/2 title in the division’s opening game on June 18, when the game against the winemakers rained at Wrigley Field that day. The Cubs had an odds of 79.9% to win every Van Graff model at the time. The Brewers at the time had more than 0.500 in four games, with an 8.3% chance of winning the division, and even a 29.8% chance of playing field.
Milwaukee is 39-10 since the rain, while Chicago is 25-25.
Entering Sunday's game, the chances of the winemakers winning the division have been increased to 95%, with the Cubs winning the division with a 5% victory and 97.5% of the season winning the playoffs.
“The job is to try to win the department – that's the ultimate goal,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “From our perspective, yes, they're really hard to achieve part of the goal. We only have 13 chances to affect it.”
Despite this, there are still opportunities.
“We sit here and have a rare opportunity,” Kussel said. “We have mastered it. Now, we will have to make money. There is no doubt.”
“The winemakers are hot,” said Pete Crow-Armstrong, an all-star outfielder who insists he is not worried about the Crows' slide in the standings. “No, the bears are the bears. We will continue to play baseball with all year round. It's been a fun two weeks, but we're fine. I don't think there's any concern in the world.”
For brewers, if they don’t keep their focus, they know that a good atmosphere will change quickly.
“It feels like the season is over, but it's not actually that,” Jelich said. “There's actually a lot of time left, and a lot of things can happen. Look at what we've done.” [in 2018 when they caught the Cubs to win the division]. We have seen a lot of changes happening in six weeks. ”
Here is the series you need to know:
How have teams fought against each other so far?
This is important because head-to-head results represent the first decisive game to determine the playoff position at the end of the regular season. The Cubs and Winemakers have split the first eight games, so the winner of this five-game series will win the series this season.
What is a typical starting lineup?
Winemaker
How hot is the winery? Their franchise record-breaking winning streak begins, and they place 21-year-old budding star Jackson Chourio with a right hamstring strain at Illinois State University. Despite the absence of NL Rookie of the Year candidate Collins (Paternity List) and 2024 NL NL Gold Glove Award finalist Perkins (bereavement list), they broke the club over the weekend. Perkins returns to Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati, with Collins expected to be activated as a double on Monday.
Counsell mixes things a little bit and will use Hoerner with Lefty Pitching on Leadoff Spot. Super Utility Willi Castro can also fill in multiple positions, while backup receiver Reese McGuire can also see the action. Veteran Justin Turner usually plays against left-handed. The Cubs boasted about one of the best offenses in the first half (5.3 runs/games and .771 OPS), but have been working hard since the break (3.8 runs/games and .681 OPS).
How to set up rotations for this series?
Winemaker: The Brewers have the starter on the opening day, while Major League Baseball (MLB) won the queue for leader Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90 ERA) to face the Cubs for the 23rd time in his career in the first game of the Doubles on Monday. Game 2 was called by right-hander Chad Patrick from Triple-A Nashville, a small league hiding, considering he had 3.52 ERAs (18 games) in 19 games this season and in July’s NL rookie, he chose the space Brandon Woodruff returned from the injured roster in July.
After that, the winemakers owned Woodruff, rookie All-stars Jacob Misowerski and Quinn Priester, kicked off the rest of the series.
Bear: As mentioned earlier, rookie Rookie Cade Horton will win the Cubs in Monday's opening game of twin bills. The right recorded 1.13 ERA in the last seven outings, helping the second half of the Chicago Post MLB’s best rotation era (3.02). Jameson Taillon (15-day Illinois) is expected to start activation during the series, possibly as early as Monday. Although the rest has not been revealed by Counsell, the Cubs' rotation will herald left-handed Matthew Boyd, Righty Colin Rea and Lefty Shota Imanaga in the rest of the series.
How to queue up in the cattle pen after the appetizer?
Winemaker: Friday started 19 games in 18 days, and winemakers often rely on bullpens this season. Trevor Megill broke into the major league with the Cubs in 2021, but thrived with the winemaker after perfecting the knuckle curves with his fastball. His ERA was 0.92 in the last 19 games. Left-handed Jared Koenig and right-handed Abner Uribe and Nick Mears and Milwaukee joined the trade deadline deadline Shelby Miller and Milwaukee. In early July, he was eliminated due to a right forearm injury and he was closing the game.
Bear: The Cubs’ bullpen has changed a bit since the opening day, but Counsell has found a way to get the most out of his evolving cast. Overall, the group had an ERA of 3.81 to Sunday (fourth in the NL). The hard-earned Daniel Palencia is getting closer, and Righty Brad Keller and Lefty Caleb Thielbar are often the main setup options. Chicago also acquired Righty Andrew Kittredge and Lefty Taylor Rogers after the deadline. The spinning Ben Brown now offers Counsell a length option for the relief regiment.
Any injuries?
Winemaker: Chourio is the biggest, but he is said to have made good progress in Milwaukee this weekend and is expected to start his recovery mission as soon as possible. The winemakers don't have first baseman Rhys Hoskins (left thumb), either, but Vaughan's gap is growing. In terms of pitching, the brewers suffered an outstanding blow on Saturday when they placed the left-hand rescuer DL hall on the IL and were injured with a right tilt. Hall will play a big role in this series as he is able to provide multiple innings.
Cub: Taillon has been eliminated due to calf strain since July 1, but he is ready to rejoin the Chicago rotation this week. Catcher Miguel Amaya was at 10 days at Illinois State University due to a sprain of her left ankle, and right Michael Soroka (before the deadline) was in 15 days of IL and returned from a tension in her right shoulder. Left-handed Justin Steele enters the season after requiring left elbow surgery in April.
Who is hot? Who is not?
Winemaker: The winemakers took Woodruff's 7-0 record on the mound and won the last 14 games of Priester's pitching, dating back to his last outing in May. Vaughn hit .327 in 31 games with nine home runs, 35 RBIs and 1.002 OPS since he was summoned to the Brewers in the first week of July.
Bear: Holden has scored 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA in the last five outings. …Shaw has been rolling since the break, reaching .307 with 1.058 in 26 games. Eight of his 10 home runs were in the second half. …Suzuki (.193 average and .616 OPS), Tucker (.190 average and .596 OPS) and Busch (average .163 and .163 and .565 OPS) have been very cold since the break.