TipResumen

PREVIEW

The top of the National League Central will become a little clearer over the next couple of days as the leaders Chicago Cubs (68-49) host second place Milwaukee Brewers (67-54) with just 3 games between the teams. With the St Louis Cardinals looking like a team building momentum towards the conclusion of the regular season, this two game set is very important to both the Cubs and Brewers to maintain their position in the Division. Recent games have been difficult for Milwaukee who have dropped five of their last seven games which has seen them lose some ground on the Chicago Cubs. They also have not been helped by dropping eight of their eleven games against the Cubs in 2018 and so this two game series has become much more important for the road team than the Division leaders. Of course the Cubs won't want to give Milwaukee any confidence as we enter the final couple of months of the regular season. They will understand the emotional blow the Brewers would suffer if they are unable to at least split this series and Chicago will feel they can get off to a positive start when they give the ball to Jose Quintana to start on the mound. Quintana is 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2018 but he has lacked the consistency the Cubs would have wanted from him as a starting pitcher. The pitcher comes off a tough start against the Kansas City Royals, but Quintana has saved some of his best for the Milwaukee Brewers and has held them to two runs through 19 innings pitched against them across two starts. That has also improved Quintana's record to 4-1 with a 0.92 ERA in his seven career starts against the Brewers and will give the Cubs belief they can at least have a platform for success in this game. Milwaukee will counter with Jhoulys Chacin who has an 11-4 record and a 3.91 ERA in 2018, but who dropped his first decision since the end of June last time out. Chacin had been in dominant form in July, but was banged around in both of his starts made in August and will be looking to rediscover his mojo in this game. Chacin did hold the Cubs scoreless through 6 innings when pitching against them this season and that helped improve his career record to 3-4 with a 3.30 ERA against this team.



PREDICTION

This is a very important two game series for both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers and both will feel they have the pitcher going to the mound who can give them success in the opener. My edge goes to the Chicago Cubs who have been in better form than the Brewers of late although I won't be surprised to see a number of momentum shifts within this game.

Good Luck