The Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers meet Friday in MLB action from American Family Field. Here’s a Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Cubs are fresh off a series versus the San Francisco Giants this week. Chicago lost the first three installments of that set 5-4, 5-1 and 4-3. In the Thursday finale the Cubs powered out a 5-3 win. Starter Shota Imanaga lasted 6.0 innings with three earned on five hits and two walks.
For the Friday starter role the Cubs will send out Jameson Taillon. This year Taillon is 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 12 starts. Over his career in 185 games (184 starts), Taillon is 63-48 with a 3.93 ERA.
Milwaukee Brewers Betting Preview
Over on the Brewers’ side, they took on the Texas Rangers in their last series. Milwaukee did quite well in that one, taking a three-game sweep with wins 6-3, 3-1 and 6-5. In Wednesday’s victory the Brewers got a grand slam from Jake Bauers in the third inning.
For the Friday opener the Brewers will send out Colin Rea in the start. So far this year Rea is 6-2 with a 3.62 ERA in 15 games (13 starts). Rea is 20-16 with a 4.49 ERA in 77 career games (62 starts).
Brewers vs Cubs Pick Injury Notes
Cubs SP Caleb Kilian (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday.
Brewers 3B Joey Ortiz was removed from Wednesday’s game due to a neck injury.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Brewers’ last seven home games after going to extra innings have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Cubs’ last seven games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last 11 night games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Brewers’ last three games against National League opponents.
Milwaukee Brewers Player Prop Facts
- Gary Sanchez has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances with his team as a home favorite against the Cubs.
- Rhys Hoskins has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Brewers’ last five night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- William Contreras has recorded at least one hit in each of the Brewers’ last 12 night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- William Contreras has recorded at least one total base in each of the Brewers’ last 12 night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Christian Yelich has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Christian Yelich has scored a run in each of his last 10 home appearances after not playing the previous day.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Jameson Taillon has recorded five or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last nine games.
- Seiya Suzuki has scored a run in each of his last five appearances with the Cubs as road underdogs against the Brewers.
- Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in three of his last five appearances with the Cubs as road underdogs against NL opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances with the Cubs as underdogs against the Brewers.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 road appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 road appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Ian Happ has recorded a Double in three of the Cubs’ last four night games against opponents that held a winning record.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction
I’ll just stay with the Brewers. Milwaukee needs a good bounce-back from Rea, though. In his last start Rea put up five earned runs in 5.1 innings during a no-decision versus the Padres. That said, Rea had been doing quite well in his previous pair with three earned in 13.0 innings for a 2-0 record.
Milwaukee has done a pretty good job scoring lately. They’re on a seven-game streak scoring three or more runs in each game. If the Brewers can get to that threshold here they should be in good shape.