Friday, July 22, 2016

Miller Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jason Hammel vs. Jimmy Nelson

The Chicago Cubs visit Miller Park on Friday to play the Milwaukee Brewers. The probable starters are Jason Hammel for the Cubs and Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -168 and Milwaukee at +158. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Cubs have a 46-44-4 over/under record and a 49-45-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Brewers are 48-44-0 against the run line and have a 44-42-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 57-37 record, including 27-21 on the road. Starting pitcher Jason Hammel has a 8-5 record with an earned run average of 3.34 and a WHIP of 1.10. He has 86 strikeouts over his 102.1 innings pitched and he has given up 82 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.2 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.33. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.75 and they have given up 211 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .211 against the bullpen while being struck out 273 times and walking 113 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.03 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.8 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.21. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 664 base hits and 306 earned runs. They have allowed 95 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 286 batters and struck out 828. They walk 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.12 and their FIP as a unit is 3.80.

As a team, Chicago is batting .255, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .266 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .432 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .346 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 15th in baseball with 8.66 hits per game. Kris Bryant comes into this game hitting .285 and his on-base percentage is at .380. He has 101 hits this season along with 77 runs scored and 65 runs batted in. He's struck out 95 times and has walked 44 times. Anthony Rizzo is hitting .292 and he has an on-base percentage of .403. He has totaled 97 hits so far while scoring 58 runs and he's driven in 71. He has walked 50 times and has struck out 63 times. The Cubs have 814 hits, including 173 doubles and 123 home runs. They've stolen 39 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 19 times. Chicago has walked 393 times this season and they've struck out 811 times as a unit. They've left 708 men on base and have a team OPS of .778. They score 5.13 runs per contest and have scored a total of 482 runs so far this year.

Milwaukee comes into this matchup with a 23-22 home record and a 40-52 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.39, Jimmy Nelson has a 6-7 record and a 1.37 WHIP. He has 83 strikeouts over the 114 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 106 hits. He has allowed 8.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.61. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.00 and they have given up 309 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .259 against the Brewers bullpen while being struck out 291 times and walking 131 times this season. As a team, Milwaukee has allowed 9.25 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.47 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.39. The Brewers pitchers as a team have surrendered 836 base knocks and 397 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 110 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Milwaukee as a staff has walked 322 hitters and struck out 675. They give up a walk 3.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.42 while their FIP as a staff is 4.59.

As a team, they are batting .246, good for 22nd in the league while putting together a .248 average at home. The Brewers hold a .390 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .323 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 28th in baseball with 8.09 hits per contest. Jonathan Lucroy comes into this matchup batting .305 and he has an OBP of .362. He has 95 hits this year along with 44 runs scored and 48 RBI. He's struck out 65 times and has walked on 29 occasions. Ryan Braun is hitting .316 and he has an OBP of .373. He has collected 95 hits so far while he's scored 41 runs and drove in 44. He has earned a walk 25 times and has punched out 53 times. The Brewers as a unit have 744 base hits, including 140 doubles and 92 homers. They have 84 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 30 times. Milwaukee as a team has walked 340 times this year and they have struck out 879 times. They've had 631 men left on base and have an OPS of .713. They score 3.98 runs per game and have totaled 366 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 46-44-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 49-45-0 against the run line so far this season

Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Brewers are 44-42-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Milwaukee Brewers are 48-44-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

07/16/16 P Trevor Cahill Knee 15-day DL (7/9)
07/03/16 2B Chris Coghlan Ribs 15-day DL (7/3)
06/20/16 CF Dexter Fowler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/19)
06/07/16 LF Jorge Soler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/6)
05/18/16 P Joe Nathan Elbow 60-day DL (5/17)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Milwaukee Brewers

06/10/16 RF Domingo Santana Elbow 15-day DL (6/8)
05/27/16 P Chris Capuano Elbow 60-day DL (4/2)
04/04/16 LF Rymer Liriano Facial 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Zach Jones Shoulder 60-day DL (3/31)
04/02/16 P Yhonathan Barrios Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Sean Nolin Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

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