Brewers vs Cubs: 5 things to know about hit by pitch rivalry

Don’t call it a rivalry. At least that’s what former Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Cole Hamels infamously said nearly three years ago in an attempt to throw shade at the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s safe to say he’s way wrong about that as things between these two teams have probably never been hotter than they are right now.

When the two teams square up on Wednesday afternoon it will be the 12th game for each team and their sixth against one another (1). That front-loaded early-season schedule has these already familiar adversaries even closer with one another and not in a good way. And yet, they still have another three-game series before April is even over.

This season’s heated events began when Willson Contreras–dramatically at the center of all the shenanigans–got hit in the helmet by Devin Williams in the team’s first contest against one another this season on April 5 (2). Although Contreras was a little shaken by the scary hit by pitch, he was okay and was able to get to first base. When he was hit again in the very next game (a plate appearance after he intentionally and clearly tried to lean into a pitch in the strike zone) he had some tough guy words for Brad Boxberger.

Although Conteras had no intention of charging the mound he wanted to make it known he was unhappy as he put up two fingers and could be seen saying this is the second game in a row. This theatre led to both teams clearing their benches and bullpens although the situation didn’t escalate any further.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have had a more heated than usual rivalry to begin the season centered around hit by pitches.

Unfortunately, Conteras found himself in the middle of another heated game when he was once again hit by a pitch on Tuesday night–this time via a check swing on a pitch that was high and tight. Getting hit by pitches is nothing new for him, as he led the MLB with 17 just a season ago (3). That’s the price he pays for crowding the plate and making pitchers pay for any ball on the other half of the plate.

Conteras got his revenge by smacking a game-winning two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, displaying more of his infamous drama at the plate before hitting the bases, and then shushing the crowd on his way around the bags.

He and his teammates would have you believe they are the only victims of an intentional hit-by-pitch attack by Brewers’ pitchers. After Tuesday’s game, Conteras had this to say to the media, “It feels good to shut them up. When they boo me, I don’t really care. But, don’t get sensitive when I do something like that. … Tonight, we sent a message. I think they picked the wrong guy to throw at. That was a message sent.”

That’s where the other side of the story is incredibly important. The Cubs have actually hit more Brewers’ batters than vice-versa this season–5 to 4 (4). And that doesn’t include when Ryan Tepera intentionally threw behind Brandon Woodruff in Tuesday night’s game (perhaps, the only intentional attempted hit by pitch this season between the two teams). That event that missed not only the plate and Woodruff, but the batters’ box entirely had Woodruff and Tepera exchanging words with Conteras and Anthony Rizzo inserting themselves into the center of it again.

Conteras may have messed up after the game when he actually admitted to that attempt being intentional (5). In a postgame interview, he said, “That probably was a mistake by us. Trying to hit the pitcher. I don’t think he’s the right guy to do it…I think if you wanna hit somebody, it will have to be a position player.”

The two teams have a rubber match on Wednesday after Milwaukee took the first series two to three. This game promises to keep the intensity level at an all-time high for one of the most underrated rivalries in all of the MLB. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail and we get to witness another good, close Brewers’ victory.