Cubs, Brewers wrap up series at Wrigley
If the MLB-best Cubs are going to sweep their four-game set against Milwaukee, they’ll have to take down the lone bright spot in the visiting team’s rotation.
Chicago tackles Zach Davies and the Brewers this afternoon, with a 2:20 p.m. ET first pitch at Wrigley Field. According to oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI, the NL Central behemoth represents a 1.5-run favorite. Craig Counsell’s club enters the finale as a +255 underdog. The over/under run total sits at 8.5.
Davies has been utterly brilliant over his past 19 outings, going 9-2 with a sub-3.50 ERA. Despite suffering a rare setback to Cincinnati his last time out, the righty remains Counsell’s lone starter with a winning record. He’s also 2-0 with a 0.64 WHIP in two career outings against the Cubbies.
Joe Maddon counters with ace Jake Arrieta. Not only is the veteran righty pursuing his third straight win, he wants to extend the Chicago staff’s collective run of excellence. Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel have yielded two or fewer runs in 12 consecutive contests.
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Since last season’s All-Star break, the Cubs are 20-4 vs. the Brew Crew, including a 10-1 record at home. With all due respect to Davies, why would anything change in a few short hours? Bank on the North Siders to improve to a staggering 77-43.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: BREWERS/CUBS UNDER 8.5 RUNS