Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/30/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Wednesday, Mar 29, 2023
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Bally Sports Wisconsin

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Brewers -140, Cubs +120
BetMGM: Brewers -140, Cubs +120
Caesars: Brewers -140, Cubs +120

Season record
Brewers: 86-76
Cubs: 74-88

Brewers - Cubs preview and analysis


As the 2023 Major League Baseball season gets underway, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs will face off in their first game of the year on Thursday. Both teams are expected to have high expectations for the season, making this matchup a must-watch for fans of both teams and baseball in general.

The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a successful 2022 season, where they finished second in the National League Central Division but failed to get back to the playoffs. The Brewers will be looking to build on that success and make a push for the World Series this season. They have a strong roster led by the likes of outfielder Christian Yelich, Rowdy Tellez, and shortstop Willy Adames. The Brewers also have a deep bullpen that could give them an advantage in close games. The Brewers will be looking to get off to a good start against a divisional rival and set the tone for the rest of the season.

On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2022 season. They finished third in the National League Central Division, but still finished 14 games under .500. However, the Cubs have made some significant changes to their roster during the offseason and will be looking to make a run for the playoffs this year. The Cubs have added some key players such as Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger and Trey Mancini. They also have a young core of players led by infielders Nico Hoerner, who just signed an extension. The Cubs will be looking to get off to a strong start and prove that they are contenders in the National League.

As for the matchup itself, both teams have strong pitching staffs that could make for a low-scoring game. The Brewers will likely start former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in what might be his last year with Milwaukee unless things change big time with his contract situation. On the other side, it's looking to be Marcus Stroman.

In conclusion, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs matchup is always fun and it should be a good time.

Prediction

I can't wait to see if the Cubs have done enough to make a run in what should be a wide-open NL Central. But Burnes is too tough to hit against. The Cubs will be one of those teams that pick things up later in the year. Brewers 4, Cubs 3

Projected lineup

Brewers:

Christian Yelich (L) LF
Luke Voit (R) DH
Willy Adames (R) SS
Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
William Contreras (R) C
Garrett Mitchell (L) CF
Luis Urias (R) 3B
Brian Anderson (R) RF
Brice Turang (L) 2B
SP - Corbin Burnes

Cubs:

Nick Madrigal (R) 3B
Tucker Barnhart (L) C
Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
Kevin Alcantara (R) RF
Owen Caissie (L) LF
Miguel Amaya (R) DH
Chase Strumpf (R) 2B
BJ Murray Jr. (S) 1B
Luis Vazquez (R) SS
SP - Marcus Stroman

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert MLB picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily MLB projections and predictions.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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