Cubs vs Brewers Pick: 1st Place Chicago Visits Division Rival Milwaukee (May 2)

• For our Cubs vs Brewers pick, we analyze 1st-place Chicago traveling to Milwaukee with Ben Brown facing Quinn Priester
• The Cubs are an intriguing MLB story, but they still have questions
• The Brewers had a woeful start and have been streaky all season
• Chicago manager Craig Counsell spent 9 years managing Milwaukee

Cubs’ Brown Hopes to Rebound From Poor Start

Ben Brown has had one excellent start this season, but for the most part, he has been barely mediocre. His last start against the Phillies serves as an example of the type of season he has had. He surrendered 9 hits and 6 earned runs in 3.2 innings.

Overall, he has a 6.04 ERA, has allowed 34 hits and 17 earned runs in 25.1 innings. On a positive note, he has struck out 31. He has faced the Brewers before and has yet to surrender a hit in 16 at-bats. That includes confrontations with Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich.

The Cubs’ offense has carried them. Seiya Suzuki has a .990 OPS and 9 home runs. Kyle Tucker is at .950 with 8 homers. Carson Kelly has an insane 1.347 OPS and 7 homers in 50 at-bats. Pete Crow-Armstrong is becoming a defensive and offensive stalwart with his pop, speed, and great glove. Dansby Swanson is still struggling, batting .213.

Priester Had His 1st 2025 Hiccup in His Last Start

Quinn Priester was one of baseball’s most pleasant surprises. The Brewers’ righty pitched 14 innings in his first 3 starts, gave up 11 hits, and only 3 runs. However, in his last start against the Cardinals, he gave up 8 hits and 5 runs in 5 innings.

The Cubs have some experience against him. Jon Berti is 2 for 2. Ian Happ is 1 for 1. And Suzuki is 2 for 3 with a home run.

Milwaukee had won 3 straight before losing the final game of their series against the other Chicago team, the White Sox.

Chourio has 6 homers and a .766 OPS, but has only walked twice in 139 plate appearances. Yelich is struggling at .220, but has 5 homers. Brice Turang is batting .311 with 3 homers and 8 stolen bases.

Cubs vs Brewers Pick: Priester Gets His Mojo Back

Although the Cubs have re-emerged as a media darling, they have holes in their rotation and several bats who are struggling. Priester was bad in his last outing, but deserves the benefit of the doubt to rebound. The Brewers will take the visiting Cubs in the first game of their series.