Chicago Cubs, Arrieta look to close out with a series win in Milwaukee

After struggling to score runs in the first four games, the Chicago Cubs offense broke out for 11 runs in the second game of the series. With the bats hot, they’ll hand the ball to Jake Arrieta to close out the series.

If this is the last year we will get to see Jake Arrieta play for the Chicago Cubs, he’s gotten off to a good start. And things may be a little easier for him if the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun isn’t 100% because of his back. The Brewers will send Zach Davies to the mound as he hopes to bounce back from a rough first start.

After struggling to start the year, the Cubs (3-2) started clicking on all cylinders in Saturday night’s game. Kris Bryant, Albert Almora and Addison Russell all tallied three hits as the Cubs put up an 11 spot on the Crew without the aid of a home run.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

After the Brewers (2-4) snuck out a series-opening win against the Cubs on a wild-pitch in the 11th inning, things didn’t go so well for them in game two of the series. Now Davies will need to find his rhythm to avoid another poor start like last year. In his first three starts last year he was 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA. This year isn’t off to a much better start as he allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

For the Cubs, Jason Heyward returns to the lineup and hopes to keep his hot start going (.313, 5-for-16, one RBI) against Davies. Arrieta hopes to keep the Cubs fast start by the pitchers going as well. Arrieta was 1-for-2 in his first games, but we all know what he’s capable of at the plate.

Here are the lineups for today’s series finale:

It’s a 1:10 pm. CT start at Miller Park. WGN will have the television coverage while Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer will have the radio call on 670 The Score.