Thursday, August 13, 2015

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Tyler Cravy (0-3) vs. Jon Lester (7-8)

The Milwaukee Brewers take on the Chicago Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field. The Brewers send Tyler Cravy to the mound to face Jon Lester of the Cubs. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee at +208 and Chicago at -226. The Brewers, with a 52-62 run line record, cover the spread 46% of the time. They also have a 54-53 over/under record. The Cubs are 52-59 against the run line and have a 45-58 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Brewers come into this game with a 48-66 record, and they are 24-30 away from home. Tyler Cravy has a 0-3 record on the season, an earned run average of 4.95 and a 1.45 WHIP. The Brewers are 0-3 over his 20 innings pitched and he's also given up 23 hits over that time period. The Brewers are also 0-3 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 1 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 3.42 and they've given up 295 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .228 against the bullpen while being struck out 354 times and walking 120 times this season. As a team, Milwaukee has allowed 8.88 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.92 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.13.

Milwaukee ranks 20th in the league in team batting average at .250 while hitting .253 on the road. Ranked at 24th in the league in on-base percentage, the Brewers sit at .305 and they hold a .390 team slugging percentage. They rank 21st in baseball with 8.4 hits per game and Gerardo Parra leads the team with 114.

With a 63-48 overall record, Chicago will come into this game 32-24 at home. Jon Lester has a record of 7-8 while sporting an earned run average of 3.22 on the year with a 1.17 WHIP. The Cubs have a record of 12-10 over the 139.2 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 129 hits. The Cubs are also 6-14 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 2.9 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 3.41 and they have given up 311 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .233 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 332 times and walking 130 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.03 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.53 batters per nine. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.41.

They rank 28th in the league in team batting average with a .240 average while hitting .231 at home. Ranked at 14th in the league in on-base percentage, the Cubs sit at .318 and they hold a .375 team slugging percentage. They rank 27th in baseball with 8.11 hits per game and Anthony Rizzo leads the team with 117.

The Brewers have committed 85 errors and have combined for 1,151 assists and 3,035 put outs leading to a .980 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .983 team fielding percentage while committing 72 errors, accumulating 1142 assists and compiling 3,014 put outs.

Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Brewers are 54-53 against the over/under so far this season

The Milwaukee Brewers are 52-62 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 45-58 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 52-59 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Milwaukee Brewers

08/12/15 RF Ryan Braun Back "?" Wednesday vs. Chicago Cubs
06/04/15 P Brandon Kintzler Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/26)

Chicago Cubs

08/08/15 C David Ross Personal on bereavement list
07/29/15 P Neil Ramirez Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/29)
04/15/15 2B Tommy La Stella Ribs Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/9)
04/06/15 P Jacob Turner Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Guy's Pick: Take the Cubs

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn