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The Milwaukee Brewers (74-57) and Chicago Cubs (69-62) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series Tuesday at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Brewers vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Brewers lead 5-3
The Brewers won 6-2 as +117 underdogs in the series opener. LF Christian Yelich and DH Mark Canha both homered in Milwaukee’s 4-run 1st inning as the Brewers won their 9th straight game. Milwaukee owns a 5-game lead over the 2nd-place Cubs in the NL Central.
The Cubs are 8-4 in their last 12 outings and have not lost back-to-back games since a 2-game skid from Aug. 13-15.
Brewers at Cubs projected starters
RHP Corbin Burnes vs. LHP Justin Steele
Burnes (9-6, 3.65 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.08 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 in 158 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K in 8-7 home victory in 10 innings vs. Minnesota Twins Wednesday
- 2023 road stats: 5-3, 3.08 ERA (87 2/3 IP, 30 ER) in 14 starts
- 2023 vs. Cubs: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K in 1 start, a 4-0 road loss March 30 (Opening Day)
- Career vs. Cubs: 2-3, 3.48 ERA (62 IP, 24 ER) in 9 starts and 6 relief appearances
Steele (14-3, 2.80 ERA) makes his 25th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 in 138 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 5-4 victory in 10 innings at Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday
- 2023 home stats: 10-2, 2.65 ERA (78 IP, 23 ER) in 14 starts
- 2023 vs. Brewers: 0-0, 2.25 ERA (12 IP, 3 ER) in 2 starts — Most recent: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 4-3 road victory July 5
- Career vs. Brewers: 1-2, 2.48 ERA (54 1/3 IP, 15 ER) in 10 starts and 2 relief appearances
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Brewers at Cubs odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:24 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Brewers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Cubs -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Brewers +1.5 (-200) | Cubs -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Brewers at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 4, Brewers 3
Moneyline
The CUBS (-135) should end Milwaukee’s 9-game win streak with Steele on the mound Tuesday. The Cubs have won in 11 of Steele’s last 12 starts, and the left-hander has allowed 3 or fewer ER in 13 straight outings.
It’s unlikely that the Brewers will win a 4th straight game at Wrigley, especially vs. 1 of the best starters in MLB this season.
BET CUBS (-135).
Run line/Against the spread
The Brewers have not lost a game by multiple runs since Aug. 16. While Milwaukee +1.5 (-200) will probably hit, there’s no need to pay the higher price on the run line when Chicago ML is the better play.
PASS. Bet the moneyline and/or the total instead.
Over/Under
After a dominant July (1.85 ERA across 6 starts), Burnes has allowed 5 or more ER in 2 of his 4 outings in August.
Steele is also having a down month, compared to the rest of his season. The left-hander has allowed a minimum of 2 ER in each of his 5 starts in August and has allowed 6 or more hits each time out.
While I like this game to land on 7 on the dot, I would lean more toward the Over if I were forced to bet it.
LEAN OVER 7 (-105).
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