The Chicago Cubs will look to continue their home success over the Milwaukee Brewers when they meet in Game 1 of a three-game series on Friday afternoon. The Cubs (19-13), who have won seven of the past 11 home matchups against Milwaukee, have dominated right-handed pitching this season, going 17-9. The Brewers (19-11), who have yet to play a division foe at home this season, are 7-3 against the National League Central. The rivals have been evenly matched through the years, with Milwaukee owning a slight 216-214 edge in the all-time series.
The game is slated to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Brewers have the fourth-best batting average in MLB at .259, while the Cubs are 20th at .236. Chicago is the -129 favorite (risk $129 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Brewers vs. Cubs odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total runs scored is 7.5. Before making any Cubs vs. Brewers picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It enters Week 6 of the 2024 MLB season on a profitable 112-89 run on top-rated MLB picks dating back to last season, and it has excelled on top-rated run-line picks during that span, going 20-8 (+708). Anybody following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Brewers vs. Cubs and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Cubs vs. Breewrs:
- Brewers vs. Cubs money line: Chicago -129, Milwaukee +109
- Brewers vs. Cubs over/under: 7.5 runs
- Brewers vs. Cubs run line: Chicago -1.5 (+164)
- MIL: The Brewers have covered the run line in 27 of their last 43 games (+12.00 units).
- CHC: The Cubs are 10-3 at home this season.
- Brewers vs. Cubs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Cubs
Chicago is expected to send right-hander Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 0.87 ERA) to the mound. In three games, including one start, Wesneski has been solid, allowing just one earned run in 10.1 innings of work. The Cubs are hoping to get him more offensive support. Helping power the Chicago offense is first baseman Michael Busch. In 30 games, he has smashed five doubles, six homers and 17 RBI, while hitting .262 with 16 runs scored. In Thursday's 7-6 11-inning loss to the New York Mets, he was 2-for-5 with a double and one run scored. He is facing Milwaukee for just the second time in his career. He drew a walk and was hitless in two at-bats in one game as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Right fielder Mike Tauchman is off to a solid start to his season. In 28 games, he is among the team leaders with a .289 batting average with three homers, 10 RBI and 18 runs scored. He has hits in eight of his last 10 games, including a 2-for-4 performance with a double and a run scored in a 4-2 loss to the Mets on Tuesday. He was also 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in a 5-4 loss at Boston on Sunday night. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back the Brewers
Right-hander Joe Ross (1-3, 5.40 ERA) will start for Milwaukee. Despite two bad outings, including the last time out, he has been solid. He gave up just one earned run and six hits in 5.1 innings of work in a 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on April 22. He gave up two earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings to earn a 9-5 win at Cincinnati on April 9. In eight career games, including seven starts, against the Cubs, he has a 4.25 ERA with 13 walks and 31 strikeouts.
Catcher William Contreras has been on fire of late. He has hits in seven of his last eight games, including three with multiple hits. In a 3-2 win at Pittsburgh on April 24, he was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. He was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one home run in the 7-5 win over the Pirates on April 25. He doubled in a pair of runs in Wednesday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays. See which team to pick here.
How to make Brewers vs. Cubs picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 10.4 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Brewers vs. Cubs, and which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that's 112-89 on top-rated MLB picks, and find out.
