- The Brewers visit the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Opening Day
- Corbin Burnes takes the ball for Milwaukee, while Chicago counters with Kyle Hendricks
- Read on for the Brewers vs Cubs odds, runline, preview, and picks
MLB Opening Day is officially upon us, with a classic National League Central showdown on Thursday as the Milwaukee Brewers begin a four-game set at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 PM EST.
Milwaukee won the division last season but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual World Series champion, Atlanta Braves. As for the Cubbies, they cleaned house at the trade deadline but managed to add a couple of intriguing pieces in the offseason after finishing with a 71-91 record in 2021.
Reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes gets the ball for the Brew Crew here, while Chicago sends veteran righty Kyle Hendricks to the mound.
Brewers vs Cubs Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | -175 | -1.5 (-110) | Ov 10.5 (-105) |
| Chicago Cubs | +155 | +1.5 (-110) | Un 10.5 (-115) |
Odds as of April 6th at Caesars Sportsbook.
The Brewers are a clear -175 favorite here, winning 11 of their last 12 against the Cubs.
Probable Pitchers
Milwaukee sends their ace to the mound on Thursday in Burnes, who is one of the filthiest starting pitchers in the bigs. He’s coming off a career year where he edged out Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler for Cy Young, leading the Majors with a 2.43 ERA in 28 starts. The hard-throwing righty also went 11-5 while striking out an impressive 234 batters in 167 innings of work.
Burnes didn’t pitch particularly well in Spring Training though, posting a 4.50 ERA in three starts. There shouldn’t be much taken away from his performances in Arizona however because it’s more of a tune-up than anything. The 27-year-old absolutely dominated the Cubs in 2021, making three starts and compiling a ridiculous 1.35 ERA. In the process, he racked up 36 K’s in 20 innings. Dominant.
Burnes vs Hendricks 2021 Stats
| 11-5 | Record | 14-7 |
| 2.43 | ERA | 4.77 |
| 167 | Innings Pitched | 181 |
| 234 | Strikeouts | 131 |
Hendricks was the most reliable arm in the Cubs rotation last season and while his 14-7 record looks good on paper, the veteran struggled at times. Oppositions hit .278 off Hendricks. He also gave up career-highs of 43 doubles and 31 home runs. The 32-year-old didn’t pitch great at Wrigley either, posting a 5.24 ERA in 17 outings.
Kyle Hendricks has officially been named the #Cubs Opening Day starter.
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) April 2, 2022
The Brewers had their fun against Hendricks as well. His ERA was over six vs. Milwaukee in four appearances, with their potent offense hitting .308. Hendricks will be looking to change the narrative on Thursday as he makes his third consecutive Opening Day start.
All the Best MLB Sports Betting Promos for Opening Day
Brewers Ready to Do Damage
Milwaukee’s offense struggled at the end of last season and in the playoffs, but essentially their entire core is back intact for 2022. Veteran Andrew McCutchen signed on a one-year deal and should add a spark to their lineup as a DH and an outfield option when called upon. They also traded for Hunter Renfroe, who brings a ton of power to the table. He smacked 31 homers in ’21 with the Red Sox and will replace Avisail Garcia.
Headlining the offense though is franchise star Christian Yelich, who will be looking to put up much better numbers after a poor campaign. Milwaukee swings it well vs. Hendricks and should do so again here.
Brewers vs Cubs – Last 10 Games
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 19th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 6-4 | Cubs |
| September 18th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 6-4 | Brewers |
| September 17th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 8-5 | Brewers |
| August 12th | Chicago Cubs | Milwaukee Brewers | 17-4 | Brewers |
| August 11th | Chicago Cubs | Milwaukee Brewers | 10-0 | Brewers |
| August 10th | Chicago Cubs | Milwaukee Brewers | 6-3 | Brewers |
| June 30th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 15-7 | Brewers |
| June 29th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 2-1 | Brewers |
| June 28th | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs | 14-4 | Brewers |
New-Look Cubs
Willson Contreras is the only position player left from the Cubs’s World Series team in 2016, with the likes of Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kris Bryant all moving on. But, they have a couple of exciting youngsters in Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel, while signing Japanese sensation Seiya Suzuki to a long-term deal this past winter. Wisdom went deep 28 times last season and should be a staple in a Chicago offense that hit just .241 as a group a year ago.
Brewers vs Cubs Prediction
All signs point to Milwaukee here. Yes, Burnes wasn’t great in the spring, but he carves against the Cubs and should have no problem tossing six or seven innings of quality baseball. I expect the Brewers’ offense to hit around Hendricks considering their recent success against him.
Pick: Brewers -1.5 (-110)
The post Brewers vs Cubs Odds, Lines, and Spread for Opening Day appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
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