Pick on the Total for Cubs-Brewers on June 28

The Chicago Cubs and everyone else in the National League Central are trying to track down the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers and on Friday, they get a opportunity to make up some ground when they play against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (-135, 8.5)

The Cubs give the pitching start on Friday to Jameson Taillon, who has posted a 2.90 ERA this season that appears due for regression as he has a 3.83 fielding independent with just seven strikeouts per nine innings while allowing 1.1 home runs per nine innings.

Perhaps the biggest issue Taillon faces, though, is that he is right-handed and faces a Brewers’ lineup that leads the league in on-base percentage against right-handed pitchers at .338.

Overall, the Brewers rank sixth in the league with over 4.8 runs per game, which balloons to the second-best mark in the National League at home with 5.2 runs per game.

The Cubs are ranked 24th in the league in bullpen ERA entering Thursday with a 4.55 ERA and their lineup will look to get to Brewers’ starting pitcher, Colin Rea, to provide some support.

Rea, much like Taillon, has advanced numbers that regression is coming with his 3.62 ERA being backed up by a 4.80 fielding independent while netting 5.9 strikeouts and 1.3 home runs per nine innings.

Though the Cubs rank just 20th in the league in scoring with 4.1 runs per game, their plate discipline has not wavered, ranking fourth in percentage of plate appearances that draw a walk.

With starting pitchers giving up tons of contact and the way Milwaukee is exploiting right-handed pitching, there will be a slugfest in Wisconsin on Friday.

The Play: Cubs vs. Brewers Over 8.5 Runs

See which team DraftKings bettors are backing.

https://data.vsin.com/college-basketball/betting-splits/