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The Milwaukee Brewers face the Chicago Cubs Friday at Wrigley Field for a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Brewers-Cubs MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Brewers at Cubs: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Brandon Woodruff vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks

Woodruff in 2019: 11-3, 3.62 ERA in 22 starts.

2019 vs. Cubs: 0-0, 9.00 ERA (4 ER, 4 IP) in one start.
Career vs. Cubs: 0-0, 6.75 ERA (11 ER, 14 2/3 IP) in three starts.

Hendricks in 2019: 11-10, 3.46 ERA in 30 starts.

2019 vs. Brewers: 0-1, 4.00 ERA (4 ER, 9 IP) in two starts.
Career vs. Brewers: 8-6, 3.08 ERA (41 ER, 119 2/3 IP) in 21 starts.

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Brewers at Cubs: Key injuries

The list of injuries for this one includes:

Brewers

2B Keston Hiura (arm) questionable
SS Luis Urias (COVID-19) out

Cubs

3B Kris Bryant (back) probable
1B Anthony Rizzo (ribs) probable

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 Thursday at 2:45 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Cubs 9, Brewers 5

Moneyline (ML)

Hendricks was very comfortable pitching in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field last season. In 2019, Hendricks was 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 14 starts at home compared to a 5-8 record with a 5.02 ERA in 16 road starts. Despite making fewer home appearances, Hendricks gave up six home runs and 21 earned runs in Chicago versus 13 home runs and 47 earned runs away from home.

Woodruff isn’t a bonafide ace and gets the Opening Day assignment because the Brewers’ rotation isn’t that strong. Woodruff had a good 2019 but he has struggled in his three career starts against the Cubs. Milwaukee won the season series in 2019, 10-9; however, they are just 2-6 in their last eight games at Wrigley.

I gave this out on a 4-team parlay Tuesday, so I LOVE THE CUBS (-125).

New to sports betting? A winning $125 bet on Chicago will return a profit of $100.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

Chicago had a poor run line record in 2019 (76-86), but the Cubs have beaten the Brewers by two-plus runs in their last six victories over Milwaukee. Their lineup has more production—had more runs scored per game, hit more home runs and had a better slash line in 2019.

I LIKE the CUBS -1.5 (+160) to win by two or more runs. A winning $50 bet on Chicago’s run line will earn a profit of $80.

Over/Under (O/U)

We love the Cubs’ moneyline and like the run line so we have to take the OVER 8.5 (-110). Chicago returns most of a lineup Woodruff has struggled against. In 57 at-bats, the current Cubs lineup is hitting for a .277 batting average with a .404 OBP against Woodruff.

They are deep—several multiple-time all-stars, six 20-plus home run hitters and a former MVP in Bryant—and could build a big lead against a Brewers bullpen that was 17th in ERA in 2019

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Unlike in the American League, where it’s Mike Trout against the field, the competition for the 2020 National League MVP is wide open — to the point that one pick ain’t enough, Jack. You better make it three.

As of 3 p.m. ET Sunday, March 8, BetMGM has 13 different players listed at +3000 or less:

Mookie Betts (+500)
Cody Bellinger (+700)
Christian Yelich (+800)
Juan Soto; Ronald Acuna Jr. (+1000)
Nolan Arenado (+1600)
Fernando Tatis Jr.; Bryce Harper; Manny Machado (+2000)
Javier Baez; Kris Bryant; Freddie Freeman (+2500)
Ketel Marte (+3000)

National League MVP: Breaking down the field

The first thing that jumps out is that two Dodgers outfielders top the list. Personally, I would lean to Bellinger over Betts because Betts is a career American Leaguer and has to learn many new pitchers. Dodgers dominance has become expected and the two may end up canceling each other out, barring a gigantic season from one of them.

What I’m looking for (and often find) is a guy who is head and shoulders the best player on his team, reinforcing the notion that “valuable” means where would that team be without that guy? It also helps greatly to be a playoff team — or at least a playoff contender into the finals weeks of the season. For our purposes, I’m giving myself a $500 bankroll and splitting it three ways (wait for it).

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I’m putting $150 on Yelich at +800. Entering his seventh season as a full-time starter, Yelich last season hit 44 home runs, drove in 97 runs, stole 30 bases and hit .329 to win his second straight batting title. And he did all of that in in just 130 games. He may not get quite the national attention that some other stars do, but he has MVP potential (and the 2018 MVP Award on his mantle), and a lot of times it takes a couple years of dominance to get deserved recognition. He fits well in that category. At +800, the value coming back is right.

I’m putting $150 on Acuna at +1000. Entering his third season, he has set the table for superstardom and a mid-nine-figure contract at some point. It’s not easy for a leadoff hitter to win MVP because his numbers suffer in terms of consistently having men on base when he comes up. But in his second MLB season in 2019, Acuna led the NL in plate appearances (715) runs scored (127) and stolen bases (37). And, by the way, he hit 41 bombs and had 101 RBI, anyway. If he drops his 2019 strikeout total (188) by 40, it means he makes contact 40 more times and the numbers will follow.

I’m putting $150 on Harper at +2000. He’s only a career .276 hitter and has posted — by far — the highest strikeout totals of his career in each of the last two seasons. But he has missed just eight of 324 games over the last two seasons and no player in baseball rides a hot streak longer than Harper. He’s Player of the Month material often. He’s +2000 for a reason, but a good dice roll at that altitude.

THE BET: Do a three-way parlay covering spots with Yelich, Acuna and Harper. However, our roll still has $50 left. How about throwing it the way of the gold standard Paul Goldschmidt? He has established himself as a mid-30 HR guy, but he is primed for blowing those out of the water. Over the last five years, he has played 791 of a possible 810 games. At +4000, he’s worth a chip-and-a-chair.

Want to get some action on MLB futures betting? Do you have what it takes to pick this season’s winners before the season even starts. Place legal sports bets online at BetMGM.

For more sports betting tips across all sports? Visit SportsbookWire.com.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Follow @SportsbookWire.