Friday notes…
SCORING LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs’ current run differential, +52, is their season high. Last year, it took them exactly four more months and 105 more games to reach +52, when they won on Sept. 1 at Washington, 14-1, in their 137th game. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
CUBS MLB RANKINGS: Runs, 192 (1st). Runs per game, 6.00 (1st). Stolen bases, 44 (1st). Walks, 128 (3rd — Mariners, D-backs). Home runs, 46 (3rd — Yankees, Dodgers). Total bases, 516 (1st).
SEIYA IS EN FUEGO: Seiya Suzuki, last seven games since April 22: .367/.406/.867 (11-for-30) with four doubles, a triple, three home runs, six runs scored and 10 RBI. In addition, here are Suzuki’s current MLB ranks in several categories: SLG: 3rd, OPS: 4th, wRC+: 8th, ISO: 2nd and wOBA: 5th.
DANSBY, TOO: Dansby Swanson, last 10 games since April 19: .308/.357/.564 (12-for-39) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 runs scored.
Here are today’s particulars.
Neither team’s lineup was available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs and Brewers lineups.
Ben Brown, RHP vs. Tyler Alexander, LHP
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Ben Brown has struggled at times this year. And at other times, he’s been really good. We’d all like to see him get more consistency.
The best start of his young career was in Milwaukee last season, where he no-hit the Brewers for seven innings May 28, 2024, with 10 strikeouts.
I’d say “a repeat would be nice” but that’s asking a lot. Seven strong innings would be great, though.
Still wish Brown would develop an offspeed pitch like a slider or cutter.
Originally, Quinn Priester was listed as the starter for tonight but the Brewers are using an opener instead:
Opener to start the Brewers-Cubs rivalry series! Tyler Alexander is starting for the Brewers tonight in front of scheduled starter Quinn Priester.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 2, 2025
Since Priester will be the “bulk guy” and since I already wrote a whole bunch of words about him, here they are:
Quinn Priester was the Pirates’ No. 1 pick in 2019 (18th overall) but in 20 appearances (14 starts) with them he posted a 6.46 ERA. He was traded to the Red Sox last year at the deadline, but appeared in only one game for them. Then Boston traded him to Milwaukee for a couple of minor leaguers in April.
The Brewers think they have figured things out for Priester, who has made four starts for them with a 3.79 ERA. His walk rate is a bit high (14 percent) so maybe patient Cubs hitters can take advantage.
Fun fact: Priester’s great-grandfather was the founder of Priester Aviation. To this day the Priester family runs operations at Chicago Executive Airport in Palatine. Quinn Priester grew up in the Chicago area and went to Cary-Grove High School. In fact, Quinn has said that if he hadn’t gotten into baseball, he’d probably have become a pilot.
Today’s game is on Apple TV+ (how to watch). Announcers: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.
You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.
You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.