Cubs vs. Brewers Prediction and Odds for Friday, April 29th (Brewers Set for Offensive Explosion on Friday)

Two NL Central foes start a 3 game weekend series on Friday night in Milwaukee.

The Brewers are atop the National League Central through the first 20 games or so, and now will look to further themselves from their division rival Cubs on Friday night. Chicago will try to get starter Kyle Hendricks on track after a slow start to 2022. Can he against a team they are looking up to in the standings?

Let's check out the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:

Cubs vs. Brewers Odds, Run Line, Total

Run Line:

• Cubs: +1.5 (-170)
• Brewers: -1.5 (+140)

Moneyline:

• Cubs: +127
• Brewers: -137

Total: 7.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Cubs vs. Brewers Prediction and Pick

Hendricks walk rate has been creeping up this season, still sitting at 4 per 9 innings in 2022. Factor that in with the fact that he struggles to punch batters out (8.4 SO9) than this is a recipe for issues on the mound.

The Brewers offense may not be super explosive, but they can get to Hendricks with his inability to sit batters down. Milwaukee is a fairly pedestrian offense, scoring more than 4 runs once in the past 5 games and posting the 24th highest on-base percentage, but they are in good shape to get to Hendricks, who they just saw earlier this season.

Hendricks pitched 5.1 innings in that one, walking 3 and allowing 5 hits. He only allowed 1 run, but the Brewers ran up his pitch count and sent him to the dugout early (Milwaukee ended up winning 5-4).

While I like Milwaukee to continue to separate from the pack in the NL Central, I'd rather play their team total over at 4 runs rather than lay the moneyline at -137. Adrian Houser, the team's starter, has a walk rate north of 4 per 9 innings this season and can struggle against a Cubs lineup that is No. 1 in baseball.

I'm just banking on this particular matchup rather than laying extra juice on the ML.

LEAN: Brewers Team Total OVER 4 (-115)

You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!