The Milwaukee Brewers open the 2020 Major League Baseball season with a three-game set at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Both teams would like a redo on their outcomes from 2019. The Cubs went 84-78 and did not qualify for the postseason, while the Brewers went 89-73 and snagged one of the National League wild cards. They had a late lead on the Washington Nationals before a crucial error in right field allowed the Nats to come back…and Washington never looked back, rolling to a World Series title. Take a look at our sports betting preview for Saturday’s nationally televised matinee between these two NL Central foes and get the best MLB odds for the Brewers vs Cubs game.
MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (July 25)
- When: Saturday, July 25, 2020, 1:05 pm ET
- Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
- TV: FOX
- Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WGN 720 AM Chicago
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Odds: See the MLB Lines here
Projected Pitching Matchup: Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs Yu Darvish (CHI)
Why should you bet on Milwaukee?
The Brewers certainly did not stand pat after their wild card season. In fact, Milwaukee made the playoffs each of the past two years, the first time that had happened since 1981-1982. Their 30-man roster should have 11 newcomers on it. The loss of Gio Gonzalez from the rotation will be ameliorated by the arrival of Brett Anderson and Eric Lauer…once they come off the shelf. Their bats (including Christian Yelich) will determine how far they go.
Corbin Burnes looks to start the game as the opener for the Brewers. He did not go more than two innings in any game after April 17, and he posted a 1-5 record with an 8.82 ERA on the season — not the most promising statistics. He missed from July 14 to September 20 with injuries, but he should be back to 100 percent after the long layoff. Can he get the Brewers off to a good start through an inning or two? Or will the Cubs shell him to start the game?
Milwaukee Trends
- Milwaukee are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
- Milwaukee are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against Chi Cubs
- Milwaukee are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Why should you put your money on the Cubs?
The Cubs have a new manager, as Joe Maddon is now in Los Angeles with the Angels, and David Ross is the skipper. There is a ton of talent on this roster, and the 2020 rule change making for a universal designated hitter means that Kyle Schwarber will DH almost all the time. That will give Ian Happ more chances in left field — and more at-bats. The real question comes from the pitching staff. Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish are the top two pitchers in the Cubs’ rotation, and while Craig Kimbrel is the closer, the setup pieces are still in flux.
Darvish gets the start on Saturday. His numbers from 2019 were less than exciting, as he posted a 6-8 record with a 3.98 ERA. His backbreaking curve ball helped him get 229 strikeouts last year, but his tendency to leave his fastball up and over the middle made it easy for other teams to pound the ball. He started 2019 slowly, losing his first three decisions, giving up a combined 10 earned runs in 12 innings combined. Can he start the 2020 campaign with a little more polish, especially given the extended layoff? We will see — and the Brewers are helping matters by starting an opener with a propensity for throwing BP when he comes into games.
Chicago Trends
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chi Cubs’ last 6 games
- Chi Cubs are 2-10 SU in their last 12 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Chi Cubs’ last 17 games against Milwaukee
Final Score Prediction
The 2019 Cubs were much more talented than their record indicates, which suggests that Joe Maddon had lost the clubhouse in terms of his ability to motivate them. He moves on to greener pastures, and the challenge now falls to David Ross to get this team up and running in a hurry in this short season. I watched Yu Darvish change from a devastating pitcher to a very hittable one during his time in Texas and with the Dodgers, and he hasn’t really rebounded from that yet. I see this turning into a slugfest, and I predict an 8-6 Chicago win.
