Milwaukee (0-0) at Chicago Cubs (0-0)
When: Friday, July 24th 2020
Where: Wrigley Field,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Chicago -120/8.5
A pair of fist-time Opening Day starters will take to the mound Friday night as NL Central rivals the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs will begin their 2020 seasons. It’s been a fun battle between these clubs – along with St. Louis – the last few years in the Central Division, but it was a rough ending to 2019 for both. Chicago was in control of a wild-card berth and led the Brewers by five games with a month to play last year before collapsing down the stretch including five losses in six matchups against Milwaukee. Joe Maddon, who guided the franchise to a long-awaited World Series championship in 2016, decided to go out West and run Mike Trout’s Los Angeles Angels club and first-year manager David Ross takes over. The Brewers edged out the Cubs for the Central title in 2018 and won 89 games last year, only to blow and eighth inning lead in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to eventual World Series champion Washington in the NL wild card game. Brewers closer Josh Hader could not close that wild card game, but limited Chicago to one hit in 10 scoreless innings in 2019, striking out 15. Brandon Woodruff and Kyle Hendricks will get the ball in the opener.
Pitchers: Brewers – Brandon Woodruff (11-3, 3.62 ERA) | Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.46)
The Brewers haven’t had a real top-line starter in years, which is why Woodruff will be the seventh different Opening Day starter in seven years. Woodruff was an All-Star in 2019 with 11 wins through July 21st, but suffered an oblique strain that sidelined him for nearly two months. He has been knocked around by the Cubs in his three starts and two relief appearances (6.75 ERA).
Hendricks is the right choice this season to be the Cubs Opening Day starter and was a big part of the Cubs winning the 2016 World Series. Hendricks has had a sub-3.50 ERA in each of his six seasons with the Cubs and pitches much better at Wrigley Field. Last year, he was 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 0.87 WHIP at home.
I like the Cubs in this one behind Hendricks. He’s a big-game pitcher who will relish this role of being an Opening Day starter. Also, Woodruff has been unable to solve the Cubs bats in his five appearances against them.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in 2019!
Pick: Cubs -128
BETTING TRENDS:
Brewers are 11-1 in their last 12 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Brewers are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Brewers are 14-3 in their last 17 vs. National League Central.
Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Brewers are 8-2 in their last 10 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Brewers are 9-3 in their last 12 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Brewers are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
Brewers are 19-7 in their last 26 games on grass.
Brewers are 7-3 in their last 10 road games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Brewers are 4-11 in their last 15 games following an off day.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 road games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
Brewers are 0-5 in their last 5 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Brewers are 0-5 in their last 5 road games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 home games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Cubs are 36-15 in their last 51 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Cubs are 2-10 in their last 12 overall.
Cubs are 2-10 in their last 12 games on grass.
Cubs are 2-10 in their last 12 vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 2-10 in their last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 1-7 in their last 8 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Cubs are 0-8 in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 home games.
Under is 5-0 in Brewers last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 3-0-1 in Brewers last 4 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 4-1-1 in Brewers last 6 games following an off day.
Under is 12-3-2 in Brewers last 17 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 10-3 in Brewers last 13 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Under is 10-3 in Brewers last 13 road games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 overall.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 games as a road underdog.
Over is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 Friday games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 on grass.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Brewers last 5 road games.
Under is 6-2 in Brewers last 8 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Under is 19-7-2 in Brewers last 28 games as an underdog.
Under is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 road games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Over is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 overall.
Over is 7-0 in Cubs last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 on grass.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 vs. National League Central.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Over is 7-1 in Cubs last 8 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Under is 12-2 in Cubs last 14 games following an off day.
Over is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Under is 9-3-2 in Cubs last 14 Friday games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 home games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Brewers are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in Chicago.
Under is 18-7-1 in the last 26 meetings in Chicago.
Under is 36-14-1 in the last 51 meetings.
Brewers are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
