Whenever the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers face off, there is a little more juice due to the closeness in geography.
Friday’s matinee at Wrigley Field will have plenty of intrigue as Craig Counsell squares off against the team he managed from 2015-23, while leading the Brewers to five playoff appearances.
His new team, the Cubs return home following a split of a four-game set against the Mets, capped off by a 7-6 setback in 11 innings on Thursday.
Chicago enters the weekend sitting one game behind Milwaukee for first place in the National League Central. The Brewers captured the final two games of their home series with the Rays while limiting Tampa Bay to four runs in the three-game set.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski fields the ball on the ground out by Boston Red Sox’s Tyler O’Neill during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Hayden Wesneski makes his second start of the season for the Cubs, coming off a no-decision in a 5-4 loss at Boston last Sunday. The right-hander scattered five hits and allowed two runs in four innings, as the Cubs own a 1-6 record in his last seven starts dating back to last season.
Joe Ross looks to turn things around for Milwaukee as the Brewers have lost four of his five starts in 2024. Ross allowed seven runs for the second time in three starts as he was blasted by the Yankees in a 15-3 loss in his previous trip to the mound.
The two rivals went back and forth in their 13 matchups last season with the Brewers pulling out seven victories. The teams split six meetings at Wrigley Field, while the Under cashed in five of those games.
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The Cubs have posted a perfect 4-0 record in home series openers this season, as Chicago has averaged 7.25 runs per game in those victories.
The Brewers have excelled on the road by compiling a 12-4 mark, including an 8-2 record as an underdog.
Ross owns better road numbers than at home and should respond better here off the poor outing against the Yankees. Wesneski may not go long in this game and his numbers as a starter since last season aren’t strong.
Let’s take the Brewers as an underdog in the series opener against the Cubs.
Pick: Brewers moneyline (+110 at DraftKings)
