MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (Cubs vs. Brewers)
The I-94 Rivalry between the Chicago Cubs (2-2) and the Milwaukee Brewers (2-2) has lived up to the hype. Following a pair of Milwaukee home wins (9-3, 7-3) to open up the series, Chicago bounced back with two victories (4-3, 6-0) of their own at the historic Wrigley Field to force a do-or-die Game 5 tonight in Wisconsin.
Below, I'll dive into Game 5 from a betting perspective and let you know where I'm laying my money on the diamond tonight. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher as of this writing (Saturday morning). First pitch is set for 8:08 p.m. ET from American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI. Below are my top MLB picks & predictions.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Saturday's Best MLB Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Chicago Cubs (+112) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (-137) | O/U 7.5 (-108/-113)
As of early Saturday morning, Craig Counsell and Pat Murphy are both playing mind games and keeping their cards close to the vest. Neither will announce a starter, nor give any solidified plan on how the pitching is expected to play out. This tweet from Bruce Levine states that it'll be an "all hands on deck" approach for Chicago, while this post from Jesse Rogers says it'll likely be the same for Milwaukee.
Although the information is limited, I'm willing to make a play on the under. It's going to be short leashes for all pitchers involved. If one pitcher isn't getting it done, it'll be onto the next. Luckily, both of these relief staffs have been lights out this postseason. Out of the 12 playoff teams, the Brew Crew is second in ERA (1.23) and first in opposing batting average (.188), while the Cubs are fourth (2.27) and second (.200) in those respective categories.
Including last night's 3-2 thriller in Seattle, and dating back to the Wild Card Round earlier this postseason, the last five closeout games have all stayed under 7.5 runs. I wish I had more in-depth metrics or nuggets, but I think we just play the trends and ride with the pitchers - they always rise up when the stakes are highest. Give me the under.
Bet: Under 7.5 Runs (-113)