2017-09-21: Cubs (Arrieta) at Brewers (Davies) 7:10 PM CDT [Brewers lose, 5-3, 10 innings]

[hawing]

CUBS (84-67)

CF Jon Jay (L)

3B Kris Bryant ®

1B Anthony Rizzo (L)

C Willson Contreras ®

LF Kyle Schwarber (L)

SS Addison Russell ®

RF Jason Heyward (L)

2B Javier Baez ®

RHP Jake Arrieta ®

 

BREWERS (81-71)

SS Eric Sogard (L)

2B Neil Walker (S)

LF Ryan Braun ®

3B Travis Shaw (L)

RF Domingo Santana ®

1B Eric Thames (L)

C Stephen Vogt (L)

CF Brett Phillips (L)

RHP Zach Davies ®

[rcc]

This is the biggest series this year. Arrieta against Davies to start it off. Take care of business like the last time you faced the Cubbies.

 

Go Brewers!

[MilwaukeeDoctor]

This is 100% must win. If Brewers lose, let's close down the board for the rest of the season.

[hawing]

This is 100% must win. If Brewers lose, let's close down the board for the rest of the season.

Lose tonight? or lose the series, which might not be confirmed until Sunday?

[rcc]

Nah, if we lose the series we can still discuss the remaining games and be happy that the Crew made it an interesting 2017. But I don't think they will lose this series.

[pacopete4]

No matter what happens people, keep cool and realize that this team is busting their behinds to get in the playoffs. If it doesn't work out, realize the process and success they've had this season. With that said, let's go make things interesting!

[owbc]

It's not a "must-win" but the Brewers need 3/4 in this series to keep their slim divisional hopes alive.

 

The wild card chase depends on what the Rockies and Cardinals do, the Brewers could lose all 4 games and still be 2 or 3 out of the WC.

[jerichoholicninja]

I honestly don't see any way we win the division so beating the Cubs specifically doesn't matter all that much to me. As long as the Rockies get swept I will be somewhat tolerable of the results of this series. Don't look but the Cards aren't all that far behind us either right now.

[sobomp3]

Cheap tickets are still available for decent upper levels... I am 0-4 when in attendance this year. Do I go and brave the trash from down south? Or accept my curse and watch at a bar?

[sobomp3]

Hoping for 3-1, 2-2 minimum and the Cards stay close enough to have a fighting chance and play hard next week against the Cubs.

[KeithStone53151]

Of all days, Thames should be leading off today. Don't give Arrieta a chance to "settle in" after his 2 week absence with someone like Sogard or Villar. Thames-Walker-Braun-Shaw-Santana-Vogt-Sogard/Arcia-Phillips-P. That's my lineup call.

[KeithStone53151]

Hoping for 3-1, 2-2 minimum and the Cards stay close enough to have a fighting chance and play hard next week against the Cubs.

 

2-2 would basically mean no division for us. 3-1 still puts us 2 games back in the loss column with a week to go. It must be 3-1 or 4-0 or the division is gone. Wildcard will be entirely dependent on the Rockies obviously, and Cardinals to some degree as they are still very much in the picture.

[BrewCrewForever]

I really hope Davies can go 6 innings or more tonight. Could use a day of rest for the pen. Also would be great if the offense got some hits with men on base. Go Crew!

[shanedog19]

Runners in scoring position, Runners in scoring position, Runners in scoring position, Runners in scoring position. Can't say it enough, if we can't get better driving in runs with runners in scoring position, we are toast.

[BrewCrewForever]

10 games left. Each game is essentially a playoff game. Sure felt that way last night. I was standing for most of the game in my living room and pacing. Living and dying on every pitch.

[KeithStone53151]

10 games left. Each game is essentially a playoff game. Sure felt that way last night. I was standing for most of the game in my living room and pacing. Living and dying on every pitch.

 

Every game is a must-win playoff game. Winning series likely won't be enough to get in. It's nice that we had the bullpen day yesterday and have our 4 actual starters going this series. It's too bad we aren't getting Montgomery again this series, that game sure was fun.

[bucks2281]

Our bullpen is gassed and we're playing the Cubs... any chance we can order up a rainout tonight?

[pacopete4]

If Knebel takes the ball and gets a save tonight it will be CC'esque

[lukevan]

I think we have the edge going into the series. Biggest start of Davies career tonight. Let’s sweep ‘em.

[3and2Fastball]

Is Arcia hurt?! How the heck do you have Eric Sogard starting at short?

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

CC likes the lefties against righty. Sogard sees about an extra half-pitch per PA than Arcia too, which doesn't mean much, but with Arietta on a pitch limit (most likely) it isn't the worst thing in the world to have a guy who may be able to help on that front. I know that's really digging down into the details, but that feels appropriate at this point.

[Devinep]

So apparently Vogt and Pina are in a straight platoon? Sacrificing defense st 1B? Sure. But at Catcher it's way too dangerous

[KeithStone53151]

So apparently Vogt and Pina are in a straight platoon? Sacrificing defense st 1B? Sure. But at Catcher it's way too dangerous

 

Pina likely will get in the game in the 5th or 6th inning as a PH and/or for defense. Davies also has a really good move to 1b which should make running tougher.

[DaSpark]

Huge series here. Brewers could finish this series anywhere from half a game up in sole poss of first place to... mathematically eliminated from the NL central. That's a pretty extreme difference that these 4 games could make.

 

Brewers really need to win 3 or more and absolutely can't afford to lose the series.

 

(1st post btw, hello to all)

[BuckyBrewer61]

Soul-crushing loss yesterday, bullpen absolutely gassed, Cubs getting their ace back today, based on what we've seen all year seems pretty obvious what the inevitable outcome of this one will be...

 

8-2 Brewers win