Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction and Betting Odds April 7

Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Betting Preview

Play Ball! WagerTalk MLB analyst Eric Pauly offers his Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day betting preview for Thursday, April 7. Can the Brew Crew get off to a hot start as they look to defend their NL Central crown?

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Thursday, April 7	MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars
Moneyline:	Milwaukee Brewers -180 at Chicago Cubs +165
Runline:	Brewers -1.5 (-120) / Cubs +1.5 (EV)
Total:	10 Runs (Over -115 / Under -105)
Game Time:	2:20pm ET / 11:20am PT
Where:	Wrigley Field in  Chicago
TV:	MLB Network

Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Analysis

MLB Opening Day is finally here! After an offseason filled with doubt, negotiations, and ultimately a new CBA for MLB players, we can rejoice that the 2022 MLB season is finally set to begin.

The Brewers are the preseason favorite to win the NL Central and they open their season with a matchup against their division rival, the Chicago Cubs. Both teams are trotting out their aces, as expected, with Corbin Burnes getting the ball for Milwaukee and Kyle Hendricks getting the nod for Chicago.

It’s pretty rare to see a double-digit total on Opening Day between two teams with mediocre offenses and two aces on the mound, but a check of the weather report says that winds will be blowing out at Wrigley on Thursday afternoon.

Chicago Cubs Preview

After hosting a fire sale and trading away most of the core players from their 2016 World Series team, Chicago is looking to bounce back this season with some new additions to their team. However, oddsmakers do not believe Chicago is a strong team this season. At the start of the season, the Cubs’ win total is set at 74.5.

For this matchup, Chicago will have to take on one of the premier pitchers in baseball, Corbin Burnes. The Cubs’ offense looks to be lackluster this season, so I have a difficult time seeing the Cubs manufacturing runs this game.

Kyle Hendricks has spent his entire career in Chicago, but, due to injuries, he had one of his shakiest seasons due in the Big Leagues last season. Hendricks is a finesse pitcher, and he needs his sharpest stuff against the Brewers. Will he be able to maintain control of the ball in 45-degree temperatures?

Milwaukee Brewers Preview

Milwaukee has the best roster in the NL Central, and Opening Day is a great platform for the Brewers to prove why they are favorites in the division. Corbin Burnes was the 2021 NL Cy Young award winner and he is looking to build on his tremendous 2021 campaign.

The Brewers lost starting catcher Pedro Severino to a PED suspension earlier this week, and Milwaukee now has a hole at starting catcher. However, Milwaukee did enough this off-season to bolster their lineup by adding Hunter Renfroe, and I expect Christian Yelich to get back on track this season.

Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction

While I’m sure the environment for Opening Day at Wrigley Field will be immaculate, I do not see this game going well for Chicago. Corbin Burnes is too good, and the Cubs did not improve enough to compete in the division this season.

Yes, it is Opening Day and anything can happen on a daily basis in baseball, but I expect the better team to come out and win. Hendricks only pitched 81 innings last season and is more likely to be rusty than ultra-effective.

Milwaukee opened as low as a -140 favorite in this spot, and it’s been bet up as high as -190 at the time of posting. I agree with the move. The price has gotten pretty steep, but it’s hard to find reasons to back the Cubs this afternoon.

Interested in placing a bet on Thursday’s Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day clash? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 match bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.

2022 MLB Division Previews

Sportsmemo’s content team has the 2022 MLB season covered from every angle. Before this afternoon’s first pitch, check out the division previews from JM Sports, which highlight the incoming and outgoing players from each team. Content Manager Kyle Kargel, breaks down the DraftKings prop markets for most home runs, strikeouts and stolen bases. Check ’em out!

AL East
AL Central
AL West
NL East
NL Central
NL West

First Pitch | MLB Opening Day Predictions for April 7

Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective. The Atlanta Braves will raise their 2021 World Series banner at Truist Park tonight. Will they cap off the festivities with an Opening Night win over Cincinnati? Join WagerTalk’s team of MLB betting experts every weekday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT for First Pitch as we discuss the baseball betting slate.

WagerTalk Live Odds Screen

WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the MLB moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all of Thursday’s Opening Day games, including this Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers showdown, from your desktop or phone.

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Meet the Author

Eric Pauly, @slimeaction on Twitter, graduated from Binghamton University with a degree in Finance. Eric is a die-hard Washington Commanders and New York Knicks fan and enjoys watching and writing about the NFL, NBA and MLB. His favorite gambling movements include hitting a +1000 future on Washington to win the NFC East in 2020 and predicting Jonathan Taylor’s breakout season with a +900 ticket for him to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Aside from the sports betting industry, Eric also enjoys good eats, dynasty fantasy football leagues, daily fantasy sports and playing the guitar.

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