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The Cubs and Brewers are tied in the division through 162 games, so today at noon there will be game 163 to determine the NL Central division winner.
Jose Quintana will start for the Cubs, while Jhoulys Chacin takes the bump for the Brewers Monday afternoon.
Here’s the Brewers lineup.
Here's the #Brewers lineup for our final game of the regular season. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/VK3rTDw0YM
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 1, 2018
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And for the Cubs.
163 pic.twitter.com/wjGu4ux6iM
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 1, 2018
It’s pretty safe to say that this will be the primary lineup moving ahead for the Cubs and obviously we hope that lasts for several weeks.
Really the only change is having Kris Bryant in left field, or Albert Almora Jr. in center when the Cubs face a left-handed starting pitcher.
But obviously they’ll worry about that after today.
If the Cubs beat the Brewers on Monday, they’ll get a couple days off and then start the NLDS on Thursday. If the Cubs lose they’ll wait to see the winner of the Rockies-Dodgers tie breaker. The loser of that tie breaker will then play the Cubs on Tuesday in the Wild Card Game.
So, two tie breakers today, with the winner of Rockies vs. Dodgers then flying to Atlanta to play the Braves, while the loser flies to either Milwaukee or Chicago to play the Wild Card Game.
No matter the result of today’s game, the Cubs will stay in Chicago for their next opponent.
Quintana is making his seventh start against the Brewers this season. He has a 2.17 ERA in those six outings.
Meanwhile, Chacin has also been great pitching against the Cubs, recording a 1.59 ERA in four starts against Chicago this year.
The Cubs have beaten Chacin the last two times they’ve played. Quintana started both times for the Cubs in those games, allowing two earned runs in 13.1 innings combined.
First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. at Wrigley Field. The game will be on ESPN.
Finally, all the stats in today’s game will still count for the regular season. Also, because it’s still technically the regular season, both teams will have the use of their expanded rosters.
