Brewers-Cubs PPD Friday; twin bill set for May 30
CHICAGO -- The dreaded “wintry mix” meant Wrigley Field would be no place for baseball on Friday afternoon, so the Brewers-Cubs game was postponed and will be made up when the teams reconvene here in May.
The game will be part of a split doubleheader on May 30, with the first pitches scheduled for 12:05 p.m. CT and 6:40 p.m. CT.
Both teams opted to bump their starting pitchers a day to account for the postponement. Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff and Chicago's Justin Steele will be the scheduled starters on Saturday. Likewise, Freddy Peralta will be scheduled for the Brewers in Sunday’s series finale, while the Cubs will send righty Marcus Stroman to the hill for his debut with the North Siders. Both games are set to begin at 1:20 p.m. CT, and the forecast is much better over the weekend.
Friday's original lineup for the Cubs featured Clint Frazier in the leadoff spot, following his impressive spring showing. Cubs manager David Ross also had shortstop Nico Hoerner on the bench, providing a preview for how Chicago will handle playing time up the middle. Given the recent injury history of Hoerner and second baseman Nick Madrigal, Ross plans on pinpointing days to offer rest, especially at the start of this season. Utility man Jonathan Villar is the Cubs' backup shortstop.
The postponement meant an extra day of preparation for Victor Caratini -- the former Cub was acquired by the Brewers from the Padres on Wednesday and played the final three and a half innings of Opening Day -- who was in the original starting lineup on Friday as Woodruff’s catcher.