The Milwaukee Brewers will play the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of their series on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Milwaukee won the first game in this series by a score of 6-2 on Monday night, while the Cubs won Game 2 by a score of 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Brewers Preview
The Milwaukee Brewers are 74-58 this season and they have won nine of their last ten games. Prior to their loss on Tuesday, Milwaukee won nine straight games and took control of the NL Central. The Brewers offense was shut out on Tuesday, but they have scored 5+ runs in nine of their last ten games. The Milwaukee pitching staff has a 3.95 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a .232 opponent batting average this year. The Brewers offense has scored 580 runs with a .236 batting average and a .315 on base percentage. William Contreras is batting .279 with 14 home runs and 64 RBI’s for the Brewers. The projected starting pitcher for Milwaukee is Brandon Woodruff, who is 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP over 34 innings pitched this season.
Cubs Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 70-62 this season and they have won three of their last four games. Prior to splitting the first two games in this series, Chicago won three out of four games against the Pirates. The Cubs only generated one run on Tuesday, but they had scored 5+ runs in six of the previous eight games. The Chicago pitching staff has a 4.13 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .244 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 665 runs with a .253 batting average and a .329 on base parentage this season. Cody Bellinger is batting .317 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI’s for the Cubs. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Kyle Hendricks, who is 5-7 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 104.1 innings pitched this year.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won five of their last six games as home underdogs after playing the previous day.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last five home day games.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in four of their last six games as home underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 7 innings in seven of their last eight games as home underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Milwaukee Brewers Team Facts
- The Brewers have won 12 of their last 13 games against NL Central opponents following a loss.
- The Brewers have covered the run line in each of their last six road games.
- The Brewers have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The Brewers have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Brewers' last four games as favorites against National League opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Ian Happ has hit a home run in two of the Cubs' last three games as home underdogs against the Brewers.
- Yan Gomes has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances with the Cubs as underdogs against the Brewers.
- Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in 10 of the Cubs' last 11 home games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Kyle Hendricks has recorded four or more strikeouts in 12 of his last 14 appearances against the Brewers at Wrigley Field.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Nico Hoerner ranks 7th in the league in Steals (34) this season.
Milwaukee Brewers Player Prop Facts
- Christian Yelich has hit a home run in three of the Brewers' last four road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Tyrone Taylor has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last six Wednesday appearances with the Brewers as favorites.
- Christian Yelich has recorded two or more total bases in seven of his last eight appearances against the Cubs after playing the previous day.
- William Contreras has scored at least one run in each of the Brewers' last six games as favorites against NL opponents.
- Brandon Woodruff has recorded eight or more strikeouts in six of his last seven appearances with the Brewers as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Carlos Santana has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances with his team as a favorite against NL Central opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 6th in the league for steals this season (112).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 6th in the league for walks this season (462).
- The Milwaukee Brewers ranks 28th in the league for hits this season (1032).
- The Milwaukee Brewers ranks 28th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.380).
Pick
The Cubs may be a few games out of first place in the NL Central, but they are currently in one of the NL Wild Card spots. The Brewers have played very well over the last few weeks and they have been able to separate from the Cubs and Reds in the division. Chicago is starting Kyle Hendricks, who has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts. Milwaukee is starting Brandon Woodruff, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. This should be a great game between two very solid teams, but I am going to give the edge to Milwaukee. The Brewers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball and Woodruff has been really good this year. Take Milwaukee here.