Chicago Cubs vs
Milwaukee BrewersPredictions & Preview

Milwaukee Brewers poised to extend winning streak against struggling Chicago Cubs in NL Central showdown

The Milwaukee Brewers will face off against the Chicago Cubs in an NL Central battle on Friday at 8:10 p.m. EST at American Family Field. The Brewers currently hold the top spot in the division with a 48-33 record and are on a four-game winning streak. On the other hand, the Cubs are struggling with a 37-44 record and are on a four-game losing streak. Jameson Taillon will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs with a 2.9 ERA, while Colin Rea will take the mound for the Brewers with a 3.62 ERA. Milwaukee is favored to win, with the opening line at -135 and the current line at -133.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs +121 | Brewers -133
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-174) | Brewers -1.5 (+155)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Milwaukee will win straight-up is 57%.

Chicago vs Milwaukee Stats

Chicago Cubs

In their recent match against the Giants, the Cubs lost 4-3. Christopher Morel had three walks, and all players except for pinch-hitter Miles Mastrobuoni had a hit. Seiya Suzuki hit a solo homer, but it wasn't enough for a win. Pitcher Hayden Wesneski gave up three earned runs in four innings. The Cubs' biggest offseason move was re-signing Cody Bellinger for $80 million over three years. They also signed Shota Imanaga for $53 million over four years and Hector Neris for $9 million for one year. Chicago exercised options for Kyle Hendricks and Yan Gomes, and had only minor trades. They lost players like Marcus Stroman, Jeimer Candelario, and Michael Rucker. With a power ranking of 21, the Cubs are ranked 20 in offense, 19 in defense, and have a record of 38-44 this season.

Milwaukee Brewers Analysis

Milwaukee earned a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Texas Rangers in yesterday's game, with standout performances from Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, and Andruw Monasterio. Sal Frelick and Christian Yelich also contributed with three hits each, while Dallas Keuchel had a less impressive outing, giving up five runs in four innings. The Brewers have focused on one-year deals in free agency, signing players like Wade Miley, Justin Wilson, Blake Perkins, and Brian Anderson. They have also made significant acquisitions through trades, including William Contreras, Janson Junk, and Jesse Winker. Notable losses include Hunter Renfroe, Brent Suter, and Andrew McCutchen. Colin Rea will start on Friday, looking to bounce back from a recent subpar performance. The Brewers have a power ranking of 9 and are ranked 6th in offense and 9th in defense, with an overall record of 48-33. Chicago has won two out of their last three matchups against Milwaukee.

Brewers Have the Upper Hand Against Cubs with Undecided Starting Pitcher

The starting pitcher for the Cubs is still undecided, which will influence my decision on whether to bet on the spread or the money line. Colin Rea has proven to be a successful starter for the Brewers this season, and their current winning streak along with the Cubs' losing streak gives Milwaukee the edge in this matchup. The Brewers boast a top ten bullpen ERA in the MLB, whereas the Cubs are closer to the top 15 in this category. With a 25-12 home record versus the Cubs' 15-26 record on the road, I have more confidence in Milwaukee's ability to secure a victory. Additionally, the Brewers have emerged victorious in three of their last four meetings against the Cubs.

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