Chicago Cubs (76-64) at Milwaukee (72-68)
When: Saturday, September 7, 2019
Where: Miller Park,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: WGN, FS Wisconsin
Opening Odds: Chicago -127/9.5
The Milwaukee Brewers not only helped themselves in the National League wild card race on Friday, but the hard-charging Arizona Diamondbacks as well. Milwaukee cruised to an easy 7-1 over the Chicago Cubs to even their four-game series at a game a piece and climbed to within four games of the second wild card spot. The loss cut Chicago’s lead to just 2.5 games over Arizona, who beat Cincinnati on Friday. Christian Yelich went 3-for-4 with his 44th homer and three RBI in Friday’s victory, while catcher Yasmani Grandal added a solo blast for Milwaukee’s fourth victory in last six games. The Cubs saw their six-game road winning streak come to an end but remained 2.5 games back of NL Central-leading St. Louis with 22 games remaining. Nick Castellanos homered for the 13th time in 33 games since being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline for the Cubs’ only run. Javier Baez was scratched from the starting lineup with soreness in his left thumb and will have an MRI exam on Saturday. Closer Craig Kimbrel (elbow) said that he expects to return from the injured list when first eligible on Thursday when the Cubs are in San Diego.
Pitchers: Cubs – Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.25 ERA) | Brewers – Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 4.14)
Darvish rebounded from a brutal outing on August 21st to limit the New York Mets to one run and five hits over eight innings of work, but the Japanese native missed last Sunday’s scheduled start due to right forearm tightness. Darvish, who is 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA on the road, is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers.
Gonzalez also bounced back from a rough outing by tossing three scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Cubs last Sunday but had some control issues with four walks. He has been awful at home, posting a 5.64 ERA in six outings compared to 2.92 in eight starts away from Miller Park. Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 14 career starts versus the Cubs.
Darvish appears to be alright after a bullpen session on Thursday and he has been money against the Brewers. In three starts against them as a member of the Cubs, he’s allowed exactly one run in each with Chicago winning all three contests. Gonzalez has been brutal at home and the Cubs should be able to jump on him early and often.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 124-84 +2743 units on the season after a 25-11 run!
Pick: Cubs -1.5 +126
BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 road games.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 overall.
Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games on grass.
Cubs are 6-13 in their last 19 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 2-7 in their last 9 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 4-0 in Darvish’s last 4 Saturday starts.
Cubs are 6-2 in Darvish’s last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 1-4 in Darvish’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 1-5 in Darvish’s last 6 road starts.
Cubs are 1-5 in Darvish’s last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 4-0 in their last 4 Saturday games.
Brewers are 8-3 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 8-3 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 7-3 in their last 10 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 4-0 in Gonzalez’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 11-1 in Gonzalez’s last 12 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 5-1 in Gonzalez’s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
Brewers are 9-2 in Gonzalez’s last 11 home starts.
Brewers are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Brewers are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 8-3 in Gonzalez’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Brewers are 8-3 in Gonzalez’s last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
Brewers are 15-6 in Gonzalez’s last 21 starts.
Brewers are 15-6 in Gonzalez’s last 21 starts on grass.
Under is 6-0-1 in Cubs last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Under is 6-1-1 in Cubs last 8 overall.
Under is 6-1-1 in Cubs last 8 on grass.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 Saturday games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 games following a loss.
Under is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 road games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 18-7-2 in Cubs last 27 vs. National League Central.
Over is 8-1-1 in Darvish’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-1 in Darvish’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 8-2 in Darvish’s last 10 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0 in Brewers last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Brewers last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-0 in Brewers last 4 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 7-1-1 in Brewers last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Brewers last 6 Saturday games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Brewers last 7 games following a win.
Under is 5-1 in Brewers last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Brewers last 6 home games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Brewers last 7 vs. National League Central.
Under is 4-1 in Brewers last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 12-3-1 in Brewers last 16 overall.
Under is 12-3-1 in Brewers last 16 on grass.
Under is 4-1-1 in Brewers last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Brewers last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 11-5 in Brewers last 16 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 6-0 in Gonzalez’s last 6 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Gonzalez’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts overall.
Over is 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2 in Gonzalez’s last 7 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 4-0 in Gonzalez’s last 4 starts vs. Cubs.
Under is 35-15-1 in the last 51 meetings.
Under is 30-13-2 in the last 45 meetings in Milwaukee.
Cubs are 4-9 in the last 13 meetings in Milwaukee.
