Cubs vs. Brewers Odds
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-104 | 8.5 -104 / -118 | -1.5 +160 |
| Brewers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-112 | 8.5 -104 / -118 | +1.5 -194 |
Well, the Cubs come into this series in a very precarious position after getting swept in Atlanta. They are just a half-game out of the third NL Wild Card spot, but they will do not own a tiebreaker over them. With Miami beginning a series against a Pittsburgh squad that has all but packed it in and them potentially gaining a half a game from a suspended game on Monday, Chicago's postseason outlook is bleak.
As for Milwaukee, they are continuing their homestand tonight after taking two of three games from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers have wrapped up the NL Central and will look to spoil their divisional rival's playoff chances tonight.
Let's dive into this matchup to uncover the best way to bet it.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago's recent slide is not due to a lack of offense. They put up 14 runs in their three-game set against the Braves, but they also allowed 18.
As for their offensive outlook tonight, there are multiple factors to consider. The first and perhaps the one intangible that may weigh the most tonight is the overall moral of the Cubs lineup.
Chicago is down in the dumps after a deflating sweep that likely ended their season. On top of that, they had to get on a flight late last night and go from Atlanta to Milwaukee to begin this series. At this point in the season, the travel can weigh on a club, and it would not be surprising to see them come out sluggish in this matchup.
The next factor is that they are facing Colin Rea for the first time all season. Despite being in the same division, the Cubs have not seen Rea all season, and it just so happens that the Brewers sinkerballer is due for some positive regression.
Milwaukee Brewers
As for the Brew Crew, they get the advantageous side of the intangibles for this matchup. They get to stay at home and be well-rested for this matchup.
Speaking of the matchup, they get to see a very familiar face as Kyle Hendricks will take the hill for Chicago. Milwaukee has seen a ton of "The Professor," and they are due for some better results against him.
The Brewers have faced Hendricks a whopping 154 times as a team. In that span, their contact has been relatively weak, but they have put the ball in play a good deal of the time.
Their xBA is 20 points higher than their actual average against him, and their xSLG is 57 points higher than their actual team slugging percentage. Expect some of that positive regression to show up tonight.
Cubs vs. Brewers
Betting Pick & Prediction
So Milwaukee has the edge in the starting pitching matchup and the intangible matchup, but they also hold a massive bullpen edge. The Cubs bullpen is taxed after having to fight through the onslaught the Braves lineup put on them the last few days.
Whereas the Brewers were able to ride the top end of their starting rotation against St. Louis to keep their pen fresh. Not to mention, their pen has been excellent, as they have the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the majors.
So, while this line may be even, the side you should be on is Milwaukee.
