The Brewers fall to the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day with a score of 5-4. The first game of the of the 162 campaign gives the Cubs an early tie for first place in the NL Central with the Cardinals and Reds who were also winners on Opening Day.
The Brewers shown that the offseason additions on offense will help offensive woes from the season prior but lacked consistency on the mound in this outing.
NL CY Young Hangover?
Brewers Ace, Opening Day Starter and Reigning NL Cy Young leader Corbin Burnes received the no decision on Thursday and was not as dominant as I hoped to start the season. Although I mentioned earlier in the week on the Hit City Podcast that I believe this entire pitching staff may regress this season, Burnes seemed to have a few issues on the mound in Wrigley.
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5.40 |
Burnes showed some control issues, but overall the outing wasn’t a complete loss for him. Its safe to say that pitchers did not get the complete stretch out in years past during the spring. Burnes went 83 pitches and is no where near the condition he was in September or October last season. With the control issues brought his biggest mistake of the game and it cost him a two run bomb from Nico Hoerner.
Burnes missed his spot and put it right down the middle. Based off where Omar Navarez’s glove was, it looked like he was aiming to go just below the zone. That didn’t happen. Burnes will get another chance to redeem himself in Camden Yards against the Orioles next week.
Signs of Life from The Offense.
If you paid attention to any Brewers games last season, run producing was the biggest concern. Although the Brew Crew did not come out with the win in this one, they recorded 10 hits and 4 runs on Opening Day. A strong improvement from the season prior thus far.
Some of the newer additions looked promising in the game for the Brewers, as Andrew McCutchen, Hunter Renfroe and Victor Caratini found themselves in the hit column for the day. The team will need to show more improvement as the season continues however as the team left 9 batters on base. An encouraging start, but obviously more work to be done.
Christian Yelich did not start the season off the way the team would have hoped, however. Yelich, who has struggled mightily the last two seasons did drive in Kolten Wong on a sacrifice fly to left field but missed a prime opportunity to take the lead with Willy Adames on base in the Top of the 9th inning. Yelich stuck out swinging. The former National League MVP continues to find his former stride and hope to get back to a 36 home run season as he did in 2018.
Today’s Matchup
The Brewers will look to even the series at Wrigley Field Saturday, as the game today was postponed. Brandon Woodruff is on the Mound for the Milwaukee. He will take on Justin Steele.
