Call to the pen
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MLB roundup: National League Central monthly check-up

By K Michael Sweetman

Apr 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 19, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

The Milwaukee Brewers, at 15-9, have hit a bit of a skid lately, dropping two of three to Boston, and following that up with back-to-back losses to Detroit, and allowing Pittsburgh to move ahead of them. With Brandon Woodruff hitting the IL, and Cobin Burnes not really pitching like Corbin Burnes, it’s been Wade Miley stepping up. Miley is 3-1 on the year, and pitching to a 1.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, but the Brewers will need more that and an occasional decent start from Eric Lauer and Colin Rea if they are going to stay in the conversation. Rowdy Tellez has mashed eight taters, and William Contreras is batting a cool .309, but a hamstring injury that will keep Luis Urias out until at least late June, and with Garrett Mitchell potentially done for the year, the lineup could be strained a bit until they find a spark somewhere.

After sweeping Oakland on the road (you’ll probably read that phrase a lot this year), the Chicago Cubs dropped three out of four games to the Dodgers at Wrigley, but still, at 13-9, and only two games back, are still part of the NL Central equation. A completely rebuilt starting nine features seven players that were brought in via free agency this past offseason, with most of them playing key roles in one of the most exciting offenses in baseball. The Cubbies are currently second in team batting average, second in OPS and OBP, fourth in stolen bases, fifth in runs scored, and even sit in the top 10 in home runs. Free agents Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger have had a lot to do with that, but homegrown talents Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner have led the way for Chicago all season.

The Cubs back up those gaudy offensive statistics with some pretty impressive pitching. Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, and Drew Smyly have combined to go 8-3 on the young season with 82 strikeouts across their collective 82.1 innings. With Jameson Taillon due back from the injured list earlier next week, and the Nationals, Marlins, and Cardinals on the upcoming schedule, Chicago could be poised to make a nice little run to start the month of May.

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