Cubs, Brewers set for possible season-deciding series
When the Chicago Cubs entered the 2017 campaign as the reigning World Series champions, there's no way the organization could've envisioned they would have to contend with the supposed rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Central division crown.
Enter Thursday, when the two teams are set to begin a four-game series at Miller Park - with the Brewers sitting 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs for the division lead - and that's the scenario ahead of what could be a season-deciding series.
Chicago has been on a tear lately, winning seven of their last eight, but just two weeks ago, the Brew Crew stormed into Cubs territory at Wrigley Field and swept their rivals in a three-game set, limiting them to three runs in the series.
"It will be a big atmosphere there at Miller Park," Brewers right-hander Zach Davies, who is scheduled to start Thursday, told Carrie Muskat and Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. "It's going to be a fun four-game stretch against them. That sweep (at Wrigley Field) was a good thing for our team. It showed that we could go in there and sweep them at their place; now it's time for us to protect ours. It would be that much sweeter to do it again at our place, but it's going to take a lot of fight."
The Cubs will see the return of 2015 Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta. The 31-year-old hasn't started since Sept. 4, but he's ready to go, according to manager Joe Maddon, although he may be limited in how many pitches he throws.
"Jake passed all the tests so he's ready to roll," Maddon said. "We'll probably have to have some kind of (pitch count) limit on him. Everything looks like it's in good shape."
Arrieta has been dominant against the Brewers this season, with a perfect 2-0 record, allowing three earned runs in 13 innings, including 16 strikeouts.
The Brewers lead the season series 8-7.