The Milwaukee Brewers will play host to their division rival Chicago Cubs at Miller Park. The action gets going at 7:10 p.m. ET and you can watch it on either NSC+ or FSWI.
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Chicago (+105) as the underdog to Milwaukee (-125). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -115 for over nine runs and -105 for under nine. The game’s current runline odds sit at -140 for taking the Cubs -1.5 runs and +130 for the Brewers +1.5.
The Cubs have gone 3-3 SU this year and are 2-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline this year and 1.8 units ATS. The Brewers are 4-3 SU and 2-4 ATS. The team has gained 1.9 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 2.1 units ATS.
Brewers games have had an over/under record of 3-3 so far in 2018. The Cubs have an over/under record of 2-3.
The Cubs have gained 0.6 units and are 2-1 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Brewers have lost 0.1 units and are 1-3 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in two of those games, compared to two that went under the total.
The right-handed Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Cubs. Hendricks started 24 games last year and finished the season 7-5 overall with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He made five starts against Milwaukee in 2017 and put together a 1-1 record against the Brewers with a 4.18 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
The Brewers are rolling with righty Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 5.40 ERA) as their starter. Woodruff started 8 games last year while finishing the season 2-3 overall with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.
Milwaukee’s pitching staff has given up 5.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The team’s starters have a 6.23 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 2.01 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 8.9 K/9. In four games against NL Central foes, Brewers starters have an ERA of 7.52 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.30.
The Milwaukee hitters have produced 3.7 runs per contest, including 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .238/.296/.378 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain have led the Brewers’ offense so far. Yelich is slashing .385/.407/.577 with 10 hits, five RBIs and six runs scored, and Cain is batting .310 with nine hits, four RBIs and four runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 3.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.55 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 6.54 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 0.62, along with a WHIP of 1.52.
Cubs hitters have slashed .223/.322/.374 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and outfielder Kyle Schwarber have led Chicago’s hitters. Bryant is slashing .346/.469/.577 with nine hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, while Schwarber (.278/.381/.722) is up to five hits, two homers, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Schwarber taken a step back when hitting righty pitching on the road last year. Over 186 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .160/.269/.370 (his total season line was .210/.314/.466).
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Cubs went 10-9 SU against the Brewers last season.
The Brewers have lost three of their last four games SU
The Brewers’ bullpen recorded an ERA of 4.15 against the Cubs last year.
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