Chicago Cubs head to Milwaukee after seizing first place from Brewers

The Chicago Cubs their red hot second half record into Milwaukee to face the now second place Brewers for tops in the Central.

The Chicago Cubs have quickly overtaken the Milwaukee Brewers in the second half of the season, erasing a 5 1/2 games deficit. The Cubs now have a 1 1/2 game lead and will look to build on that as Jose Quintana will face the Brewers’ Brent Suter in Friday’s opener.

The Cubs (54-47) have gotten off to the hot start thanks to their pitching, and Quintana (6-8, 4.22) has been a key part to that. He’s had quality starts in his first two outings with the Cubs, and will look to make it three against the Brewers. Quintana will make just his second start at Miller Park, his last being in 2015.

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The Brewers (54-50) will look to right the ship, which has taken on a lot of water in recent weeks. They’ll hand the ball to Suter (1-1, 2.84) who comes off a start in which he pitched six innings of one-run baseball. In his last appearance against the Cubs in relief, he allowed four earned runs on four hits, including two walks.

The Cubs’ Javier Baez returns to the lineup after getting a “break” following his 0-for-5 with five strikeout game. Baez looked lost at the plate but can get hot and carry the Cubs at times–ala Alfonso Soriano. But right now he needs to simply look to put the bat on the ball.

The Brewers have gotten surprise seasons from Travis Shaw and Eric Thames–neither of who factored into last season. Shaw is hitting .299 with 29 home runs and 74 RBI, both career year’s for him already. After spending time in Korea, he’s returned to hit 24 home runs and drive in 45 himself. The Brewers will need these two to put the pressure on a Cubs starting staff that hasn’t lost yet in the second half.

Here are the lineups for tonight’s match-up:

Tonight’s game is a 7:10 p.m. first pitch at Miller Park. CSN-C+ will have the television coverage, while 670 The Score will have the radio broadcast. Be sure to check back for more new as well as postgame coverage following the completion of tonight’s game.