This has been a sinking ship for the past four weeks and that’s what really sucks about the end of the 2023 Cubs season. Just a slow, painful downfall with no answers to fix the issues and no imagination from the people in charge to find solutions. That being said, with three games left in the regular season, the Cubs can still shock the world. However, they also need some help.
After getting swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs head to Milwaukee to face off against the Brewers. Chicago begins Friday 1/2 behind the Miami Marlins for the third Wild Card spot, after the Marlins and Mets Thursday night game was suspended with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. That game will finish up on Monday, with the Marlins up 2-1.
So, the Cubs pretty much have to sweep the Brewers, while the Marlins have to lose at least 2 of 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. I’m counting that Mets suspended game as a win for the Marlins, so a sweep for the Cubs would get them to 85 wins and two more losses for Miami would leave the Marlins with 84 wins. The Cubs have to finish the season with more wins than the Marlins to get into the playoffs because Miami has the tiebreaker over Chicago.
On Thursday, the Brewers let reporters know that they will be holding back their stud starting pitchers and not have them go up against the Cubs this weekend.
Corbin Burnes pitched in his final regular season game on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals, so the Cubs were going to miss him anyway. However, the Brewers have decided to rest Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta, skipping their final starts against the Cubs.
Via Adam McCalvy.
Brandon Woodruff will pitch some live BP tomorrow as his final tuneup. Freddy Peralta will get some extra rest. Remember, the Brewers could face the Cubs again right away in the Wild Card Series.
So, instead the Cubs will face right-hander Colin Rea Friday night and Adrian Houser on Sunday, while Saturday’s starter for the Brewers is still to be determined.
Meanwhile, the Cubs will have Kyle Hendricks, Jordan Wicks and Justin Steele lined up against the Brewers.
As for the Marlins, they will be fortunate enough to miss right-hander Mitch Keller, who was shut down this week by the Pirates. The 27-year-old was an All-Star this season and despite some struggles in the second half, Keller has been Pittsburgh’s best pitcher this year.
The Pirates have been playing spoiler against their NL Central rivals the past few weeks, winning series against the Cubs and Reds on the road last week. Hopefully, they can continue that good play against the Marlins and in turn help out the Cubs this weekend.
By the way, the last time the Cubs swept the Brewers in Milwaukee was the final series of the 2015 season.
UPDATE
It’s over. Absolutely gut-wrenching loss Friday night and the Marlins took care of business against the Pirates.
