The top two teams in the National League Central Division will meet for a three game series beginning on Monday. The Milwaukee Brewers will host the Chicago Cubs in Miller Park for the divisional battle. The Brewers currently lead the National League Central by a .5 game over the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers have been the top team in the National League for most of the 2018 season, but have struggled in the past two weeks. The Brewers are just 4-6 in their last 10 games and have seen their division lead shrink. The Cubs are 8-2 in their last ten games and appear to be ready to take over the divisional lead. The Chicago Cubs are -127 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
Brewers Trying to Hold Off Cubs
This is the second straight season in which the Brewers have vaulted out to an early Central Division lead. The Cubs were able to jump past the Brewers in 2017, and Milwaukee is trying to prevent the same outcome in 2018. Junior Guerra will start for the Brewers, and he is just 3-4 on the season, but sports a very impressive 2.83 ERA.
Travis Shaw has led the Brewers offense so far in 2018. Shaw leads the team in both home runs (14) and runs batted in (39). Milwaukee has struggled to score runs this year, but they have plenty of very capable offensive players. The Milwaukee offense catches a break, facing the bottom three pitchers in the Cubs rotation this series.
Quintana Hopes to Stay Hot
Cubs’ starter Jose Quintana got off to a rough start in 2018, but appears to be rounding into form on the mound. Quintana sports a 4.20 ERA so far in 2018, but has a 6-4 record for the Cubs. If Quintana has been much better of late, and if he can give the Cubs another quality start, the Cubs have a great chance to win the series opener.
The Cubs offense is starting to peak, but were able to score just one run in their loss to the Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Javier Baez continues to lead the Cubs in the power categories, but Kris Bryant has been the most consistent hitter in 2018. Baez leads the team with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in. Look for the Cubs offense to bounce back in the series opener against the Brewers.
Cubs Beat Brewers in Milwaukee
The Cubs fans have been known to take over Miller Park, and “Wrigley Field North” should be filled with fans of the Northsiders. The Cubs struggled against the Pirates on Sunday, but have been one of the hottest teams in baseball of late. Look for the Cubs to be locked in for this series with the Brewers.
Milwaukee must find a way to defeat the Cubs if they want to stay atop the Central Division standings. The Brewers don’t have an offense capable of keeping up with the Cubs, but they feature a solid pitching staff. Look for the Cubs to find a way to score early runs against the Brewers, and keep the Cubs fans excited in Miller Park. Take the Chicago Cubs -127 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
