By Stephen Nover
Brewers minus $1.22 hosting Cubs
Maybe the well runs dry here. But the Cubs are real fade material right now. One week into the baseball season, the Cubs are a disaster. It’s not just their 1-5 record, but how they are losing games and the mindset of the team. The Cubs are pressing. Their defense has been terrbile. They’ve given up the second-most runs per game and their bullpen is one of the worst in baseball already blowing three saves. Chicago has the second-highest payroll in the league yet can’t come up with a legitimate leadoff hitter.
Ever since he nearly blew the World Series three seasons ago with his horriffic overmanaging, I’ve been off the Joe Maddon bandwagon. Now it’s time to think about a new manager. The Cubs are soft. They best would be served by a firmer hand.
Milwaukee is showing last season wasn’t a fluke. The Brewers have the best record in the National League at 6-1. The Brewers have won 67 percent of their past 83 home games.
The pitching matchup is southpaw Jose Quintana versus Brandon Woodruff. Quintana has been a major disappointment the past couple of years going from underrated with the White Sox to overrated with the Cubs. He does, though, have a strong history against the Brewers with a 6-2 record and 1.62 ERA in 11 caeer starts against them. That record, though, is reflected in the line. The Brewers are 6-1 the past seven times they have faced a lefty starter at home. Quintana’s routine may be off, too. He hasn’t made a start this season having pitched four innings of long relief against the Rangers this past Saturday.
I prefer Woodruff and a superior Brewers bullpen that has a devastating multi-inning reliever in Josh Hader. He is unscored upon and has 10 strikeouts in five innings while posting four saves already. Hader had a mind-boggling 143 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings last year with a 2.43 ERA.
The Brewers are rested having been idle Thursday. Their main rivalry is with the Cubs. They have defeated the Cubs eight the past 11 times, including going 4-1 the past five times at home. Christian Yelich gives the Brewers the best all-around everyday player on the field.
Unlike the Cubs, everything is good with the Brewers right now. Maybe the Cubs finally show life. Until then, though, I’ll go against them if the price is right.
(Editor’s note: Stephen Nover is one of the top handicappers in North America. He enters today winning 68 percent of his April plays. Please email him at scriber26@gmail.com, or message him via Twitter, if you are interested in his service.)
