MLB Game Preview - Chicago at Milwaukee

Sun Apr 9, 2017 2:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- Normally, an 0-for-14 slump to start a season isn't really considered a slump. A slow start, maybe. But not necessarily a slump.

Of course, that all changes when you're the reigning National League Most Valuable Player.

Kris Bryant found himself in that position last week, going hitless in his first three games. He broke through Friday with his first base hit of the season then collected three hits Saturday as the Chicago Cubs picked up a victory in Milwaukee.

Now, with a chance to take the series from the Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park, Bryant is ready to keep moving forward.

"I realize this is part of being a big leaguer, dealing with the 0-for-12s, the 0-for-13s, the bad stretches but knowing it's going to turn around because it always does," Bryant said. "It's part of the learning process. I'm planting the seeds to keep learning and keeping notes in the back of my head. For me, it's just being more determined out there."

The Cubs offense as a whole had been struggling of late but exploded for 17 hits against the Brewers. Much of it came by the way of weak contact and bloopers, but that was enough for manager Joe Maddon.

"We got some balls to fall in there," Maddon said. "We hadn't had that to this point.

"Bloopers always help. All of a sudden you're seeing the ball better, your confidence goes up and you start striking the ball harder."

And while it never hurts to have too much offense, the Cubs shouldn't need too much Sunday when Jake Arrieta makes his second start of the season. He allowed just one unearned run over six innings his last time out, leading Chicago to a 2-1 victory at St. Louis on April 4.

Milwaukee will counter with Zach Davies, who'd like to bounce back after allowing six runs over 4 1/3 innings in his 2017 debut.

"A lot of the misses came (second time through the order) when he fell behind in the count a whole bunch," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "There was a couple of walks where I thought he was just pitching carefully to guys to get to the next hitter."

Davies' last outing aside, starting pitching had been a point of strength for the Brewers, who hadn't allowed a first-inning run through their first five games and combined for a 1.24 ERA in their three previous games until Saturday, when Tommy Milone was tagged for four in four innings of work.

Milwaukee could be without Ryan Braun again. Braun was scratched before game time Saturday with tightness in his lower back and has missed two of the Brewers' last three games.

Counsell said it was similar to what Braun experienced last year, when he needed to take occasional days off, but wouldn't completely rule him out for the series finale.

"It was bugging him Wednesday," Counsell said. Just enough that he needed to back off a little bit. He's not going to say no yet on (Sunday). We'll see what it feels like."