Cubs vs. Brewers Prediction
On Sunday the Milwaukee Brewers will look to gain a series split against their National League Central rivals, the Chicago Cubs. But can the error-prone Brewers avoid dropping their fourth loss in five games? In order to do so, they’ll need their starting pitching to get out of its early-season funk.
Game Snapshot with Current Odds
905 Chicago Cubs (-126) at 906 Milwaukee Brewers (+114); 8.5 runs
Sunday, April 8, 2018, 2:10 p.m. ET, Miller Park
TV: WGN (CHC); FSWI (MIL)
Public Betting Trends
As of this writing, the Cubs are receiving 51% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks to beat the Brewers today on the money line. Meanwhile, 53% of the betting tickets wagered on the total are on the under.
Chicago Cubs will be missing several key starters on Sunday
Yu Darvish rebounded from a rough debut with a sharp effort on Saturday, limiting the Brewers to one run over six innings while striking out nine in a no-decision (the Cubs eventually won the game). Darvish allowed just two hits and walked one, with the only damage coming from an Eric Thames’ home run.
Unfortunately for Jose Quintana and the Cubs, they will not have Anthony Rizzo again on Sunday. Rizzo will miss the final three games of this four-game series versus the Brewers as he battles a back injury. He’s not expected to need a disabled list stint but the injury is serious enough for him to be held out today. Victor Caratini is again handling first base for the Cubs, who will also be without Javy Baez and Ian Happ. Ben Zobrist will man second base with Albert Almora in center field.
Milwaukee Brewers have to clean up mistakes
The Brewers fell one game short of a wild card berth a year ago and if they don’t clean up their mistakes defensively, they could find themselves on the outside looking in again this season. After leading the National League with 115 errors last season, manager Craig Counsell noted this offseason that he thought his club had made strides defensively. But the Brewers committed 11 errors over their last six games, including a pair in the ninth inning that led to a four-run rally by the Cubs on Saturday. It was Milwaukee’s third loss in its last four games.
The Brewers will counter the Cubs’ Quintana with Chase Anderson, who is coming off an outstanding 2017 campaign. He has been okay thus far in 2018, however, allowing three home runs in 10 innings of work. The good news is that he has already registered 11 strikeouts and he’ll face a Cubs lineup that is full of strikeout potential.
Betting Trends:
Chicago
Dating back to last season, the Cubs are 7-3 in Quintana’s last 10 starts but are just 2-5 in his last seven road outings.
Milwaukee
The Brewers have won six of Anderson’s last seven starts and are 4-1 in his last five outings at Miller Park.
Bet Sunday’s Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers Matchup
Today’s MLB Prediction
I’m going to take a flier on the sloppy Brewers this afternoon. They’re a home dog facing a Chicago lineup that will be without Rizzo, Baez and Happ, who seemingly has turned a corner. The Brewers will be without their own star in Christian Yelich, who probably won’t return from his oblique injury until Monday. Still, Anderson should rack up plenty of strikeouts against this Cubs offense and I like the Brewers to scratch across just enough runs to pull off the small upset at home.
Pick: Milwaukee Brewers +114