It’s no secret that the Brewers and Cubs share a bitter rivalry and emotions tend to run high whenever the two meet. After losing the season-opening series 1-2, the Brewers hold the all-time record over the Cubs but very narrowly- 201-200.
This weekend was no exception to the drama. Cubs pitcher Keegan Thompson is currently appealing to the MLB over his three-game suspension and fine for intentionally hitting Andrew McCutchen and clearing the benches in the process. Catch up on the incident here.
The incident has drawn fire from both sides on social media. Cubs backers argue that Thompson’s actions were retaliatory, as Brewers pitchers hit Cubs with pitches four times to date this season. Their favorite statistic to quote is that the Brewers lead the MLB in batters hit by pitches from a single team since 2020 against the Cubs with 27. What often gets left out is that the Cubs are a close second in that same category against the Brewers with 26. 12 of the Brewers’ hits have been Wilson Contreras, the Cubs’ vocal catcher.
Cubs fans have filled Thompson’s latest Instagram post with congratulatory remarks for plunking McCutchen.
After the bench-clearing hit by Thompson, McCutchen told reporters that “everybody and their mom knew when I came up to bat, I was going to get hit.” There’s no doubt in his mind that the Cubs pitchers aim to hit Brewers when they come up to the plate. Meanwhile, Wilson Contreras has admitted, “I know they’re not trying to” about the Brewers pitchers who have hit him and his teammates over the past two years. The difference between the Brewers’ hits this series and Thompson’s is clear intent. Thompson pitched behind McCutchen on the first pitch. After missing, he went after McCutchen again, finally making contact with his hip after multiple attempts.
Whether or not Thompson wins his appeal, all eyes will be on the pitchers when the Brewers and Cubs meet up again on April 29 at American Family Field.
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