Chicago Cubs (75-63) at Milwaukee (71-67)
When: Thursday, September 5, 2019
Where: Miller Park,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Chicago -108/9
The Milwaukee Brewers have a huge chance this weekend to make the National League wild card race even more interesting when they host the Chicago Cubs for four games at Miller Park. Then again, they could also play themselves out of it with a poor showing. Milwaukee and Chicago both had the day off, with the Cubs holding a 2.5 game lead over Philadelphia entering Wednesday’s action. The Brewers sit four back and are coming off a two-game split of AL West-leading Houston this week, while the Cubs demolished the Mariners in a two-game sweep to stay within striking distance of St. Louis in the NL Central. Cubs’ catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) came off the injured list on Tuesday to spark the offense with a home run among his two hits, but 3B Kris Bryant is still battling a knee issue and sat out Tuesday. Brewers’ 3B Mike Moustakas (wrist) is also banged-up and is questionable for Thursday after sitting out five of the last seven games. This will wrap-up the season series in which the Cubs own a slight 8-7 edge but were shutout in the last two meetings last weekend.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jose Quintana (12-8, 3.90 ERA) | Brewers – Chase Anderson (6-4, 4.58)
Quintana has sandwiched two scoreless outings around a clunker after beating Milwaukee last weekend by scattering four hits across 5.2 innings. He was hit hard by the Washington Nationals in his previous outing after shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates for seven innings on August 18th. Quintana will be seeing the Brewers for the sixth time this season and is 2-2 with a 5.54 ERA so far.
Anderson was hit hard by the Cubs last weekend, allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings at Wrigley Field after pitching five scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks. Anderson surrendered 10 runs on nine hits – three homers – over 2.1 innings at Washington on August 18th and will be making his third start against Chicago in 2019. He allowed two runs over five innings in a 5-3 home win versus the Cubs back at the end of July.
I trust Quintana more than Anderson right now and the Cubs are playing much better on the road. Chicago is 28-39 away from Wrigley, but have won five straight road games and are 9-2 in Quintana’s last 11 starts.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 122-84 +2543 units on the season after a 23-11 run!
Pick: Cubs -123
BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 5-0 in their last 5 road games.
Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 7-1 in their last 8 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a win.
Cubs are 9-3 in their last 12 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 games on grass.
Cubs are 56-23 in their last 80 Thursday games.
Cubs are 11-5 in their last 16 games following an off day.
Cubs are 7-0 in Quintana’s last 7 starts vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 9-2 in Quintana’s last 11 starts.
Cubs are 9-2 in Quintana’s last 11 starts on grass.
Cubs are 4-1 in Quintana’s last 5 road starts.
Cubs are 15-7 in Quintana’s last 22 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 3-7 in Quintana’s last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 2-5 in Quintana’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
Brewers are 3-9 in their last 12 games following an off day.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Brewers are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Brewers are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Brewers are 7-2 in Anderson’s last 9 Thursday starts.
Brewers are 5-11 in Anderson’s last 16 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 2-5 in Anderson’s last 7 starts vs. National League Central.
Brewers are 1-4 in Anderson’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-4 in Anderson’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-4 in Anderson’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 0-5 in Anderson’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Brewers are 0-4 in Anderson’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0-1 in Cubs last 6 overall.
Under is 5-0-1 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 games following a win.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 14-3 in Cubs last 17 games following an off day.
Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 16-4-2 in Cubs last 22 vs. National League Central.
Under is 19-6-3 in Cubs last 28 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 9-4 in Cubs last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 2-0-2 in Quintana’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 3-0-3 in Quintana’s last 6 starts on grass.
Under is 3-0-1 in Quintana’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 3-0-3 in Quintana’s last 6 starts overall.
Under is 2-0-3 in Quintana’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Quintana’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Quintana’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Quintana’s last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-0 in Brewers last 6 Thursday games.
Under is 5-0-1 in Brewers last 6 games following a win.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 home games.
Under is 4-0-1 in Brewers last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0-1 in Brewers last 5 vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-0-1 in Brewers last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-0-1 in Brewers last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-1-1 in Brewers last 12 overall.
Under is 10-1-1 in Brewers last 12 on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Brewers last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Brewers last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 4-1-1 in Brewers last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 11-4-1 in Brewers last 16 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 27-10-3 in Brewers last 40 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 13-6-2 in Brewers last 21 games following an off day.
Over is 7-0-1 in Anderson’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-1-1 in Anderson’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Anderson’s last 6 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1-1 in Anderson’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 9-3 in Anderson’s last 12 Thursday starts.
Over is 6-2-1 in Anderson’s last 9 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 16-6-3 in Anderson’s last 25 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-2 in Anderson’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0 in Anderson’s last 5 home starts vs. Cubs.
Under is 6-0-1 in Anderson’s last 7 starts vs. Cubs.
Over is 4-0 in Quintana’s last 4 road starts vs. Brewers.
Cubs are 5-1 in Quintana’s last 6 road starts vs. Brewers.
Cubs are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Under is 29-12-2 in the last 43 meetings in Milwaukee.
Cubs are 9-4 in Quintana’s last 13 starts vs. Brewers.
Under is 9-4-1 in Quintana’s last 14 starts vs. Brewers.
Under is 34-16-1 in the last 51 meetings.
Cubs are 3-8 in the last 11 meetings in Milwaukee.
