Chicago Cubs Set Pitching Rotation for Milwaukee Brewers

The Chicago Cubs have set their pitching probables for their final regular-season series of 2023 as they visit the Milwaukee Brewers starting on Friday.

Friday’s game will start at 7:10 p.m. central, with Saturday’s game starting at 6:10 p.m. and Sunday’s finale set for 2:10 p.m.

The Cubs will be fighting for a Wild Card berth while the Brewers have already clinched the National League Central crown.

Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 3.66) will face Brewers right-hander Colin Rea (6-6, 4.74) on Friday.

Hendricks will be making his first start since taking a loss against Pittsburgh on Sept. 21. He gave up just one earned run and seven hits in six innings, while striking out five and walking two. In his last seven starts he is 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA, with 30 strikeouts and eight walks in his last 40.1 innings.

Rea last through against St. Louis on Tuesday, as he struck out two hitters in one inning of work. He enters this start with a 1-2 record and a 5.40 ERA in his last seven games, four of which have been starts.

Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (4-1, 3.00) will start Saturday’s game, while the Brewers have not announced a starter.

Wicks claimed a victory in his last start against Colorado on Sunday. He gave up just four hits and three earned runs in six innings. He also struck out three and walked one. The rookie is preparing to make his seventh and final start of the regular season and enters the game with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks.

Left-hander Justin Steele (16-5, 3.00) will start for the Cubs on Sunday against Brewers right-hander Adrian Houser (7-5, 4.32).

Steele (16-5, 3.00) took a no-decision in his last start against Atlanta on Tuesday. In that game he struck out six and walked one in 5.1 innings but gave up six hits and three earned runs. Steele has had Chicago's best season as a starter, and he is 2-2 with a 3.92 ERA in his last seven starts, which includes 49 strikeouts and eight walks in his last 41.1 innings.

Houser lost his last start against St. Louis on Tuesday. He only allowed three hits and two earned runs in five innings of work. He also struck out five and walked two. In his last seven starts for Milwaukee he is 3-2 with a 4.59 ERA, with 34 strikeouts and seven walks in his last 33.1 innings.