Pirates (Priester) vs Brewers (Rea): 8/4/23, 7:10pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Back in first place, now stay there!

[treego14]

[Jake McKibbin]

It'll be interesting with a relatively fresh faced rookie who's struggled with command so far can be taken apart by some patient Brewers at bats. The four seamer to left handers (His predominant fastball to southpaws) has been crunched so far, but certainly taking nothing for granted, as the Brewers have struggled this year against the more unknown pitchers.

If Rea can avoid a long ball tonight, I'd expect a quality start, but he's struggled a little under pressure in that regard this season. I think he's pitched really well of late, just a little underlying confidence and belief in those bigger moments, or a little luck and he can hopefully give a good one

[Bulldogboy]

Huge game to get tonight. Keeping the momentum and scoring early will be the key. Would be nice to see Santana or Canha break out. Unsung hero of the season is Monteserio. Where would we be without that guy. 🤔 

[Brewcrew82]

Hendricks held the Braves scoreless for 3. Now, they're doing that thing they did to us. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Braves doing what they do to the Cubs. Marlins and DBacks have tough road series. We'll see if the Nats and and Royals can sneak a win or two this weekend.

Would be really nice if the Crew could put together a 7-2 stretch over the next week or so. Do that, and I'd think you'd have a cushion of a few games in terms of playoff positioning. Might need that as the schedule toughens up starting with the Dodgers series.

[Brewcrew82]

Cubs still have 5 more games against the Braves after this...Those could prove significant. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

There's a college basketball line about how around the start of February freshmen "aren't freshmen any more". Been thinking about that regarding Turang & Wiemer. Not just the combined 5 hits last night, but the quality their ABs in the last week or two look better to me. With Yelich leading off it would be huge if those two can get on base for him in addition to cleaning up some runners themselves.

I hated CC hitting Frelick 4th, 5th. But the man's driving in runs. Gotta roll with it.

Hopefully Canha gets some stuff to fall soon. His ABs haven't been THAT bad for him to be oh-for-Milwaukee.

[BruisedCrew]

A mere 6 XBH in a 7 run inning. 2 HR, a 3B, and 3 2B with two singles thrown in for good measure. 
 

Max Fried has 4 perfect innings in his return from the IL. 

[igor67]

Hadn't really been paying attention, but our leadoff hitter is leading the team in RBI's by a fair margin.

[willie key]

46 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Cubs still have 5 more games against the Braves after this...Those could prove significant. 

The only problem is one of the series is at the end of the year and you have no idea how focused or what team Atlanta will field as they will be playing for pretty much nothing at that point 

[willie key]

27 minutes ago, igor67 said:

Hadn't really been paying attention, but our leadoff hitter is leading the team in RBI's by a fair margin.

He’s had have more if they batted him behind hitters who were good.   Yelich probably should have been moved down in the order once he started hitting like his old self

[Joseph Zarr]

Just here to say it is always a day more beautiful when the Cubs get their a$$es handed to them. Glorious Friday to all. Oh, at Hipsterv...oh wait...Wrigley no less? You don't say!

[treego14]

[JCREW]

Monasterio on the bench?!?!? I will be eating my pizza and drinking my beer under duress!

[Bulldogboy]

No rush to see Anderson back in the lineup but Counsell can't help himself. Gritty vets are his favorite. 

[willie key]

3 minutes ago, Bulldogboy said:

No rush to see Anderson back in the lineup but Counsell can't help himself. Gritty vets are his favorite. 

No kidding

[Brewcrew82]

12 minutes ago, Bulldogboy said:

No rush to see Anderson back in the lineup but Counsell can't help himself. Gritty vets are his favorite. 

It's a defensive improvement and they pretty much have the same xwOBA. 

[treego14]

Monasterio is out ... seems silly/ridiculous to me.

He should be playing either 2B, SS, DH, or 3B tonight ... none of the guys starting in those spots tonight are more deserving than Monasterio.  It's not even close.  Monasterio is outhitting all these guys by a wide margin!

[yourout]

9 minutes ago, treego14 said:

Monasterio is out ... seems silly/ridiculous to me.

He should be playing either 2B, SS, DH, or 3B tonight ... none of the guys starting in those spots tonight are more deserving than Monasterio.  It's not even close.  Monasterio is outhitting all these guys by a wide margin!

If nothing else DH him.

[willie key]

Losing that series to the nationals is really bad

[torts]

Hate blackout games, can't believe I pay for MLB.tv and can't watch the game in Pittsburgh (I also have Hulu, no regional sports network).  I feel this is going to be a good one

[edfunderburk]

When did Milwaukee last have a positive run differential?

They could get there tonight if they win by 3 runs 🙌👏🎉👏💪

[Brewcrew82]

Robots...That's a strike under any strike zone.

[82brewcrew82]

Gotta be embarrassing when the batter starts walking away too.