Cubs task Arrieta with toppling Brewers again
The Cubs have captured 11 of 17 meetings with the Brewers in 2016. Yesterday afternoon’s triumph, however, was by far the most surprising.
Fielding a lineup comprised entirely of reserves, Chicago managed to rally for a 5-4 win in 10 innings. Handicappers at online sports book Bovada.lv like the host team’s chances of securing another matinee verdict shortly. Conversely, Milwaukee enters Wrigley Field as a +200 underdog. The over/under run figure rests at nine.
Joe Maddon’s personnel strategy in the second game of the series was by no means some kind of flight of whimsy. Thirteen hours beforehand, the Cubbies had clinched the Central Division crown by virtue of the Cardinals’ loss to San Francisco. The “B” team ended up haranguing Craig Counsell’s troops anyway, pushing Chicago’s record to 94-53.
Beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET, though, expect a much more familiar lineup in support of Jake Arrieta. The reigning Cy Young recipient, who paces the National League with 17 victories, is 6-3 with a 0.98 WHIP in 11 career meetings with the Brew Crew. Most recently, he gave up three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 frames to Houston.
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Milwaukee responds by sending Zach Davies to the hill. Counsell’s most reliable option in the rotation comes off an outing in which he threw 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball vs. St. Louis. He’ll draw his career-high 27th assignment of the season.
The Cubs obviously won’t have a lot of motivation to hit the accelerator down the stretch. Still, Arrieta’s presence always raises the possibility of a special occasion. Look for the class of MLB to earn at least a split of the set here before resting the masses again tomorrow.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5