Milwaukee (24-17) at Chicago Cubs (23-14)
When: Sunday, May 12th, 2019
Where: Wrigley Field,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Chicago -130
The Chicago Cubs sure have a flare for the dramatics lately and will look to win yet another series when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Milwaukee extended their winning streak to seven games with a 7-0 win in the series opener Friday to tie the Cubs atop the NL Central. The Cubs got revenge on Saturday with their third walk-off home run in the past five games when Willson Contreras blasted one out in the 15th inning for a 2-1 victory. Chicago has won 11 of its last 13 and has not lost a series since dropping two of three at Milwaukee in early April. Contreras (15-for-41, four homers) and Cubs SS Javier Baez (15-for-42, two homers) are both riding 10-game hitting streaks. Milwaukee managed just four hits and grounded into six double plays Saturday in their first loss since May 2nd. Tonight’s starters, Jhoulys Chacin and Jon Lester, have pressure to go deep as both bullpens were used heavily, as the Cubs used seven relievers and the Brewers used six. Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun (hamstring) was a late scratch from the lineup Saturday but hopes to return Sunday.
Pitchers: Brewers – Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 5.03 ERA) | Cubs – Jon Lester (2-1, 1.41)
Chacin has rebounded nicely over his last two starts, but they were at home. He has yet to put together a solid performance away from home, going 1-3 with a lofty 7.50 ERA, 10 walks, and five homers allowed in 18 innings. Chacin allowed two runs over five innings in a no-decision Monday against Washington after tossing six scoreless in his previous start against Colorado. He is 4-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) against the Cubs.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Lester has been solid all season long, allowing two earned runs or less in each of his six starts and has surrendered three runs (one earned) over his last three starts covering 18 innings. His latest was a 5-2 win over Miami in which the 35-year-old allowed two runs – both unearned – over six innings with zero walks. Lester is 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA in eight starts against Milwaukee but the Cubs lost in his latest start against them last September.
Both teams are playing well right now, but I’m giving the edge to the Cubs here because they’re home and their bullpen has been outstanding. They may not even need the bullpen much the way Lester has been pitching. I like Chacin, but don’t trust him on the road even though he had three pretty solid performances in 2018 at Wrigley. Cubs win a close one.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Sunday. He is 59-38 +1551 units on the season, has won 9 in a row and 14 of his last 17!
Pick: Cubs -135
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BETTING TRENDS:
Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 games on grass.
Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Brewers are 16-6 in their last 22 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 10-4 in their last 14 Sunday games.
Brewers are 47-20 in their last 67 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 18-8 in their last 26 during game 3 of a series.
Brewers are 21-10 in their last 31 games following a loss.
Brewers are 39-19 in their last 58 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Brewers are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. National League Central.
Brewers are 5-1 in Chacin’s last 6 starts vs. National League Central.
Brewers are 4-1 in Chacin’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Brewers are 5-2 in Chacin’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 9-4 in Chacin’s last 13 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-4 in Chacin’s last 5 starts during game 3 of a series.
Brewers are 1-4 in Chacin’s last 5 Sunday starts.
Cubs are 7-1 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 3 of a series.
Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a win.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Cubs are 17-5 in their last 22 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 20-6 in their last 26 overall.
Cubs are 20-6 in their last 26 games on grass.
Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 13-5 in their last 18 Sunday games.
Cubs are 43-19 in their last 62 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Cubs are 38-17 in their last 55 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 6-1 in Lester’s last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
Cubs are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 Sunday starts.
Cubs are 10-3 in Lester’s last 13 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 11-4 in Lester’s last 15 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 38-14 in Lester’s last 52 home starts.
Cubs are 36-15 in Lester’s last 51 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 36-15 in Lester’s last 51 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 37-16 in Lester’s last 53 starts on grass.
Cubs are 36-16 in Lester’s last 52 starts with 4 days of rest.
Cubs are 37-17 in Lester’s last 54 starts.
Cubs are 39-18 in Lester’s last 57 starts vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 19-9 in Lester’s last 28 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 vs. National League Central.
Under is 6-0 in Brewers last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 11-2 in Brewers last 13 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 5-1-1 in Brewers last 7 Sunday games.
Over is 9-2-1 in Brewers last 12 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 17-5-1 in Brewers last 23 road games.
Under is 26-8 in Brewers last 34 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 6-2 in Brewers last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Brewers last 8 on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 7-3 in Brewers last 10 games following a loss.
Under is 15-7-2 in Brewers last 24 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Chacin’s last 4 starts during game 3 of a series.
Under is 7-0 in Chacin’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Chacin’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 11-1 in Chacin’s last 12 road starts.
Under is 5-1 in Chacin’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 5-1 in Chacin’s last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Chacin’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 16-5 in Chacin’s last 21 starts on grass.
Under is 16-5 in Chacin’s last 21 starts overall.
Under is 6-2 in Chacin’s last 8 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Chacin’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 on grass.
Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 home games.
Under is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 vs. National League Central.
Under is 12-5 in Cubs last 17 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 18-8 in Cubs last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 Sunday starts.
Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 6-1 in Lester’s last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts on grass.
Over is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts overall.
Under is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Over is 6-2 in Lester’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 home starts.
Over is 11-5 in Lester’s last 16 starts during game 3 of a series.
Cubs are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts vs. Brewers.
Under is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings in Chicago.
Under is 4-1 in Chacin’s last 5 starts vs. Cubs.
Under is 27-8 in the last 35 meetings.
Brewers are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
