Don’t look now, but the Chicago Cubs have made it to the quarter-pole of the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season with a 12-3 record. They are the only team with a record above .500 in the division, 5 ½ games ahead of Cincinnati (8-10) and Milwaukee (7-9). They also have had fewer postponements than their rivals, as the COVID-19 outbreak that affected the St. Louis Cardinals did not have as much impact on the Cubs’ schedule at this point. Next up for the Cubs is a four-game visit from the Brewers, running Thursday through Sunday at the Friendly Confines.
Take a look at our baseball betting thoughts on each of the four games plus keep in mind how each affect the MLB odds.
MLB Games : August 13-16
Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs
Game Details
When: Thursday, August 13, 2020, 9:00 pm ET
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
TV: FOX (Thursday); FSWI and Marquee Sports Network (Friday-Sunday)
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WSCR 670 AM Chicago
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Game Dates
Thursday, August 13, 2020, 7:15 pm ET (FOX)
Friday, August 14, 2020, 8:15 pm ET
Saturday, August 15, 2020, 8:15 pm ET
Sunday, August 16, 2020, 2:20 pm ET
Check the Odds | For each Game
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Thursday: Brett Anderson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) (MIL) vs Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.12 ERA) (CHI)
Friday: Brandon Woodruff (1-1, 2.53 ERA) (MIL) vs Tyler Chatwood (0-0, 5.40 ERA) (CHI)
Saturday: Adrian Houser (1-1, 2.65 ERA) (MIL) vs Alec Mills (0-0, 1.38 ERA) (CHI)
Sunday: Josh Lindblom (1-0, 4.15 ERA) (MIL) vs Jon Lester (2-0, 1.06 ERA) (CHI)
Who should you Pick in Thursday’s game?
Brett Anderson has neither lasted long nor pitched well in either of his first two 2020 outings. His debut came on August 3 against the White Sox, and he gave up two earned runs on five hits over three innings. He made it 3 ⅔ innings against the Reds on August 8, but he gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits (including a home run). In 6 ⅔ combined innings, he has struck out four and walked two and has yet to make it out of the fourth inning.
Yu Darvisn has gotten off to a solid start in 2020. He got roughed up a bit by these Brewers on July 25, giving up three runs on six hits over four innings, but since then he has dominated against the Pirates and the Royals, throwing 13 combined innings, permitting seven hits and just one run, while striking out 11 and walking two. I see Darvish continuing that solid trend against a struggling Brewers team.
Final Prediction:
Chicago 6, Milwaukee 2 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Friday’s game?
Brandon Woodruff has given his team a chance in each of his four starts so far this season. He has not given up more than two earned runs in any appearance, and although he has given up at least one home run in three of his four starts, he has limited the damage. It helps that he has just five walks issued so far. Over 21 ⅓ innings, he has permitted jus six earned runs on 16 hits, striking out 26.
Tyler Chatwood got off to a terrific start in 2020, throwing 12 ⅔ innings of six-hit, one-run ball against the Brewers and the Pirates, striking out 19 and walking just four. However, the Royals lit him up on August 6, slamming a pair of home runs and tagging him for eight runs on 11 hits in just 2 ⅓ innings. So was that the outlier, or were the first two? I see this as a bit of a pitcher’s duel, with the Cubs getting the last laugh.
Final Prediction:
Chicago 3, Milwaukee 2 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Saturday’s game?
Adrian Houser’s first two starts of 2020 were masterful, as he mowed down the Pirates and the White Sox for 12 combined innings of six-hit, one-run ball (with the one run coming on a solo shot) while fanning nine and walking five. However, the Twins got to him a bit on August 10, as he lasted five innings but surrendered four runs on six hits, including another home run.
Alec Mills was scratched from his start on August 6 against the Royals, but in his two starts before that, he had thrown well. He threw for 13 combined innings against the Reds and the Royals, allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking five. It will be interesting to see if he has some rust after the layoff. With that uncertainty on Mills’ arm, I would not bet heavily on this game unless more information comes out about his status before Saturday. For now, though…
Final Prediction:
Milwaukee 6, Chicago 4 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Sunday’s game?
Josh Lindblom got touched up by the Twins on August 11, giving up four runs on seven hits, including three home runs, while striking out eight over four innings. So when he wasn’t striking guys out, he was getting lit up a bit. In his two prior starts, he had thrown 8 ⅔ innings combined against the Pirates and the White Sox, permitting four runs on seven hits.
Jon Lester has looked like an ace so far in 2020. In wins over the Reds, Pirates and Indians, he has thrown a combined 17 innings, permitting just two runs on seven hits, striking out nine and walking four. Given how well Lester has been throwing, it’s hard to see the Brewers doing a lot of damage.
Final Prediction:
Chicago 4, Milwaukee 1 | Check the Odds
