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Chi. Cubs (44-37) at Milwaukee (49-29)
- When: Jun 26 2026, 7:45 PM
- Where: American Family Field, Milwaukee
- TV: Apple TV+
Chi. Cubs vs Milwaukee MLB Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Milwaukee -258
Runline: Milwaukee -1.5 (-121)
Total: 7.5
Aye, this is the kind of National League Central showdown bettors should have their eyes on. Milwaukee returns home after another impressive series sweep and opens an important three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. Oddsmakers have installed the Brewers as a strong -258 moneyline favorite with the run line at -1.5 (-121), while the total sits at 7.5 runs.
Although both clubs enter this matchup riding plenty of confidence after sweeping their previous opponents, Milwaukee appears to hold the edge in nearly every important category, beginning with the starting pitching.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Chicago heads into Milwaukee after completing an impressive four-game sweep of the Mets, capped by a dramatic 4-3 extra-inning victory thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s game-winning RBI double. The Cubs have won six of their last seven games and continue to battle despite several injuries.
The concern for bettors is the current state of the pitching staff. The Cubs are playing 14 games over a 13-day stretch, while multiple starters remain unavailable after Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown joined an already crowded injured list. That leaves additional pressure on Colin Rea, who faces the organization he pitched for over the past two seasons.
Rea enters with a 5-5 record and a 4.99 ERA. June has been difficult, posting an 0-2 record with a 5.85 ERA over four appearances, although his latest outing showed improvement after allowing only three hits across 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Toronto. Facing one of baseball’s hottest division leaders is a much tougher assignment.
Player Prop Pick: Colin Rea Over 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed – Milwaukee knows Rea well, and with the Brewers swinging the bats confidently, this looks like a difficult matchup for the veteran right-hander.
Milwaukee Brewers Betting Preview
Milwaukee continues to separate itself atop the NL Central standings. The Brewers completed a road sweep of Cincinnati despite operating with a depleted bullpen, getting timely offense from William Contreras, Jake Bauers and Andrew Vaughn before escaping late trouble.
The Brewers now sit 20 games above .500 and own a commanding 6.5-game lead over Chicago. Even more impressive has been their dominance within the division, posting an 11-3 record against NL Central opponents, including 10 consecutive divisional victories. Milwaukee also swept the Cubs during their previous meeting earlier this season.
Jacob Misiorowski gives Milwaukee another significant advantage. The young right-hander owns an outstanding 8-3 record with a sparkling 1.45 ERA while leading Major League Baseball with 138 strikeouts. Although he suffered his first defeat since April in his most recent start, he still struck out seven batters over six strong innings.
His recent numbers remain remarkable. Misiorowski owns a microscopic 0.45 ERA across his last nine starts. During May, he went 5-0 while allowing only one earned run over 38 1/3 innings with 57 strikeouts. Earlier this season against Chicago, he tossed six scoreless innings while striking out eight during a 5-2 Brewers victory.
Player Prop Pick: Jacob Misiorowski Over 8.5 Strikeouts – His elite strikeout ability, combined with dominant recent form and previous success against Chicago, makes the strikeout market one of the strongest betting opportunities in this matchup.
MLB Expert Picks & Final Score Prediction
Milwaukee enters with the superior starting pitcher, healthier roster, home-field advantage and one of baseball’s hottest records inside the division. While the moneyline carries a heavy price, the run line provides better betting value.
Final Score: Brewers 5, Cubs 2
Lean: Brewers -1.5 (-121)
Total: Under 7.5 (-123)
- MLB Baseball Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
