After today the Cubs will have the rest of their pitching on normal rest. First inning has been rough, but I understand the logic here.
Colin Rea has not been particularly great against Milwaukee himself.
5.2IP, 3ER, 5BB, 4 K in August
4IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K in August
So that's 5 runs in 9 innings with as many walks as K's.
I'm not sure there was a great choice game 1 coming off the series. But this the advantage of being the 1 seed and not the 4 seed.