Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: Can Chicago Start a Winning Streak?
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: Can Chicago Start a Winning Streak?
The Chicago Cubs have one of the worst lineups they've fielded in recent years. But that doesn't mean the Cubs won't be competitive or any good. The Cubs defeated the Brewers in the first game of the season and will now look to put together a winning streak against an NL Central rival.
Can the Cubs have more success against another ace pitcher on the Brewers? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs.
Brewers vs. Cubs Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: April 8, 2022
- Game Time: 2:20 pm ET
- Where to Watch: MLBN
Brewers vs. Cubs Injury Report
Brewers
Out: 3B Luis Urias (Quadriceps)
Cubs
Out: SS Andrelton Simmons (Shoulder)
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Brewers vs. Cubs Line Movement
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
The Milwaukee Brewers lost their first game of the season against the Chicago Cubs, 5-4 in a thriller.
Despite the Cubs acquiring Marcus Stroman, Chicago will actually send out Justin Steele onto the mound for the second game of the season. Stroman will pitch tomorrow.
Therefore, we’ve got an angle.
Steele had a 4.51 xFIP last season with 10.9% walks. He was able to induce 50.7% ground balls but also gave up nearly 40% hard contact. Steele had a lot of success against lefties, dominating them with a wOBA of .240 and an ISO of .098.
However, to lefties, he walked them nearly 20% of the time. Righties walked 8.6% of the time and had a wOBA of .359 with an ISO of .230 in 197 plate appearances.
The Brewers figure to have a right-handed heavy lineup against the lefty. The assumption is that only Kolten Wong and Christian Yelich will be the lefties in the lineup. The rest will be righties. Combined, the lineup had a .182 ISO with 10.7% walks against lefties last season.
Every single batter in the Brewers’ lineup walked 8.5% or more against lefties last season but Kolten Wong, who’s a lefty with a low strikeout rate against lefties.
On top of that, every batter but Keston Huira hit a line drive rate at 21% or greater against lefties.
Meanwhile, the Brewers should be confident with ace Brandon Woodruff on the mound. Woodruff held teams to a 3.06 xFIP and struck out 30% of batters while walking just 5.9%. It’s not going to be an easy day for the Cubs. Ground balls could be limited but ultimately, Woodruff is tough to score against.
Anyway, there’s going to be an opportunity in multiple innings for the Brewers to score runs. We just need a walk and a blast from the Brewers in five innings. Steele is always all over the place with his pitches and racked up four walks in last year’s most recent start against the Brewers in just four innings.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs Pick
- Milwaukee Brewers Over 1.5 Team Total (-150) (Bet $150 to Win $100)
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Article Author
Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.