Opening Day 2020 is finally here, and now we can finally exhale. This is the moment fans anticipated for the last four months. Even with health safety and Major League Baseball regulations and changes, it’s good to feel a sense of normalcy again. Baseball in summer.
In a not-so-surprising move, Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced that right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff will start on Opening Day. He will face right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs. Along with Woodruff, Hendricks is making his first Opening Day start as well. Hendricks’ start will break the three-year streak of Jon Lester, who will be a back end starter for the Cubs this season.
Kyle Hendricks
In a small sample size, Kyle Hendricks posted a 1.00 ERA in nine innings pitched, stretched over three games in Spring Training. Hendricks’ mix of pitches includes a sinker, four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball. He doesn’t throw fast by any means, but his pitching is effective. So much that it granted him an Opening Day start.
Brandon Woodruff
Nothing got in the way of Brandon Woodruff earning the Opening Day start. Despite missing nearly two months due to an oblique injury last season, Woodruff put up an All-Star season. Just like all of us, Craig Counsell is wildly impressed with Brandon Woodruff. Counsell told Brandon Woodruff that this Opening Day start will be the “first of many” for him.
Brewers vs Cubs pitching match up
Woodruff and Hendricks’ splits are average against each team. Woodruff has a mid 4 ERA against the Cubs and Hendricks has a low 3 ERA against the Brewers. The righty-on-righty matchup benefits left-handed hitters because they read right-handed pitchers better. Enter Christian Yelich.
The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Chicago Cubs in Game One of the Opening Series at Wrigley Field. Find a television or radio because the game will air on Fox Sports Wisconsin and ESPN, as well as on 620 WTMJ radio at 6:10 P.M. CST.
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