The Milwaukee Brewers (9-10) finish a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs (13-5) Sunday at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. The Brewers beat the Cubs, 6-5, in 10 innings Saturday to go up 2-1 in this series. We analyze the Brewers-Cubs betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Brewers at Cubs: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Josh Lindblom vs. LHP Jon Lester
Lindblom in 2020: 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA, 20 K, 8 ER in 12 2/3 IP over 3 starts.
- The 33-year-old righty has pitched only two innings and has allowed zero runs in two appearances versus Chicago in his career.
- He threw a four-inning no-decision, striking out eight hitters and gave up four earned runs in a 6-4 win.
Lester in 2020: 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA, 9 K, 2 ER in 17 IP over 3 starts.
- Lester has a 5-4 record in 69 2/3 innings pitched with 73 strikeouts over 11 starts in his career against the rival Brewers.
- He allowed only one earned run, striking out four, in a 7-1 victory versus the Cleveland Indians in his last start.
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Brewers at Cubs: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Brewers
- CF Lorenzo Cain (personal) out
Brewers at Cubs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Brewers 7, Cubs 4
Moneyline (ML)
Milwaukee (+115) has the edge in the pitching matchup. The hitters in the current Brewers lineup have a combined .331/.390/.459 slash line against Lester. Lindblom has a 14.2 K/9 while the Cubs have the second-most strikeouts in the majors.
LF Christan Yelich has just a .176 batting average but is hitting .389 in his 18 at-bats against Lester. He’s due for a slump buster and it could come in this game.
BET THE BREWERS (+115). New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Brewers (+115) earns a $115 profit if Milwaukee upsets Chicago.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Saturday’s game went to extra innings so there is logic to taking the Brewers +1 (-133) but I am going to PASS ON THE RUN LINE. The Cubs -1 (+110) have the fifth-best run line record in MLB (11-7) and Milwaukee has the worst run line record (6-13).
Over/Under (O/U)
I lean OVER 9 (-110) in Brewers-Cubs but will avoid betting the total myself because I prefer to play sides. My handicap has Milwaukee making contact with Lester’s pitches, getting runners on base and getting into a softer Chicago bullpen.
Also, Cubs hitters—who score the eighth-most runs per game—rake against Lindblom who has nice strikeout numbers but certainly is no guarantee to pitch a quality start. Furthermore, the Under is 21-4-1 in the last 26 meetings in Chicago.
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