Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Friday June 26 2026
Use Code WWWC The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game NL Central series at American Family Field on Friday night, with Colin Rea facing Jacob Misiorowski in a matchup featuring a substantial difference in starting-pitching performance.
Chicago arrives after completing a four-game sweep of the New York Mets, while Milwaukee has won four consecutive games and swept the Cubs during their first series of the season. This preview examines the latest odds, pitching matchup, predictions, and top MLB player props for Friday’s Cubs vs Brewers game.
Best Available Odds for Cubs vs Brewers
- Best Moneyline Odds: Chicago Cubs +220 (BetMGM), Milwaukee Brewers -265 (FanDuel)
- Best Spread Odds: Chicago Cubs +1.5 (+109, DraftKings), Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (-100, FanDuel)
- Best Total Odds: Over 7.5 (-105, DraftKings), Under 7.5 (+100, BetMGM)
Game Info
- Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
- Time: 7:45 PM EDT
- Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- TV: Apple TV
Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Preview
The Chicago Cubs enter Friday at 44-37 after completing a four-game sweep of the New York Mets. Chicago won Thursday’s finale 4-3 in 10 innings and has now earned six victories across its last seven games.
Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered the decisive hit Thursday, driving in the go-ahead run with a double during the 10th inning. The center fielder extended his hitting streak to 14 games and his on-base streak to 27.
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Crow-Armstrong has supplied an important combination of power, speed, and defense throughout Chicago’s recent surge. He has produced several extra-base hits during the streak and continues to create pressure whenever he reaches base.
The Cubs also receive consistent production from Ian Happ, Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Moisés Ballesteros, and Matt Shaw. The lineup is deeper than the one Milwaukee faced during its three-game sweep at Wrigley Field in May.
Happ remains one of Chicago’s leading power threats, while Busch gives the Cubs another dangerous left-handed hitter near the top of the order. Hoerner supplies contact and baserunning, and Bregman provides an established right-handed bat capable of handling premium velocity.
Chicago’s recent offensive form creates more resistance than the moneyline suggests. The Cubs repeatedly produced important late plate appearances during the Mets series and demonstrated an ability to win close games even when the offense did not dominate early.
Friday’s matchup nevertheless represents a substantial increase in difficulty. Misiorowski leads Major League Baseball in ERA and strikeouts while combining elite velocity with improved command.
The Cubs saw him once this season, on May 19 at Wrigley Field. Misiorowski completed six scoreless innings, allowed only limited traffic, and struck out eight as Milwaukee earned a 5-2 victory.
Chicago’s hitters should benefit from having seen his arsenal, but familiarity does not eliminate the problems created by his fastball and breaking pitches. The Cubs must avoid expanding the strike zone and force Misiorowski to accumulate pitches before he can work deep into the game.
Crow-Armstrong and Busch face particularly difficult left-handed hitting matchups against Misiorowski’s velocity and slider. Happ can work deep counts, but his swing-and-miss risk also increases against a pitcher capable of finishing hitters both above and below the strike zone.
Chicago’s pitching situation creates the greater concern. The Cubs are without Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, Cade Horton, and several other arms who would ordinarily provide rotation or bullpen depth.
Matthew Boyd returned from the injured list Thursday, while Chicago acquired David Peterson from the Mets. Neither development changes Friday’s starting assignment, leaving Rea responsible for handling one of the National League’s hottest teams.
The Cubs also enter with a bullpen workload disadvantage. Chicago played a doubleheader Wednesday and required 10 innings Thursday before travelling to Milwaukee.
Hoby Milner, Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and Trent Thornton all appeared during Thursday’s victory. Webb and Thornton completed the final two innings, with Thornton recording his first save of the season.
Manager Craig Counsell still has several relievers available, but Chicago’s recent schedule limits the flexibility to aggressively remove Rea at the first sign of trouble. The Cubs need him to provide at least five competitive innings.
The Milwaukee Brewers enter at 49-29 after sweeping the Cincinnati Reds. Milwaukee has won four consecutive games and remains in control of the NL Central.
The Brewers also own a 25-15 home record and have won all three meetings with Chicago this season. Milwaukee swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field from May 18 through May 20.
Milwaukee’s first advantage comes from its lineup construction against Rea. The Brewers can use several left-handed or switch-hitting threats against a pitcher who has been significantly less effective against left-handed batters.
Brice Turang should occupy a premium lineup position. He combines contact, speed, and improving power while giving Milwaukee an immediate platoon advantage against Rea.
Christian Yelich remains one of the lineup’s most dangerous hitters. His patience can force Rea into deeper counts, and his left-handed power creates problems whenever the right-hander falls behind.
Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Jake Bauers, and potentially other left-handed options can also receive favourable matchups. Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and Andrew Vaughn provide right-handed balance around them.
Contreras enters in strong form and continues to give Milwaukee one of baseball’s most productive offensive catchers. His contact ability and willingness to use the entire field make him difficult to attack even when Rea avoids the middle of the plate.
Chourio provides another power-and-speed threat. Rea cannot focus exclusively on the left-handed portion of the lineup without giving Chourio or Contreras opportunities to attack pitches inside the strike zone.
Milwaukee has been one of baseball’s more productive teams against right-handed pitching during June. Its combination of patience, contact, speed, and left-handed power matches up well against Rea’s current weaknesses.
The Brewers also enter with a rested bullpen after receiving Thursday off. Milwaukee used several middle relievers during Wednesday’s win over Cincinnati but should have its preferred late-game arms available for the series opener.
Trevor Megill, Aaron Ashby, and Abner Uribe should all be positioned to work behind Misiorowski. Jared Koenig is also expected to return, giving Milwaukee another reliable left-handed option.
That bullpen availability creates a significant contrast with Chicago’s schedule. If Misiorowski completes six or seven innings, Milwaukee should be able to move directly into its strongest relief combinations without exposing the middle of the bullpen.
Pitching Matchup
The Chicago Cubs will start right-hander Colin Rea, who enters at 5-5 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts across 79.1 innings.
Rea’s latest start was encouraging. He held the Toronto Blue Jays scoreless over 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and striking out three.
That performance followed a difficult appearance at Coors Field in which Colorado scored seven earned runs on nine hits across 4.2 innings. The difference between those starts reflects the inconsistency that has defined Rea’s season.
His home and road splits are especially concerning. Rea owns a road ERA above 7.00 with a WHIP around 1.60, compared with significantly stronger results at home.
Rea has also allowed left-handed hitters to bat above .300. Milwaukee can place Turang, Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, and Bauers throughout the order, repeatedly forcing him to navigate the more difficult side of his platoon split.
The veteran right-hander does not possess overwhelming strikeout ability. He depends on changing speeds, locating around the edges, and converting contact into outs.
His expected-contact numbers have been weaker than league average. Opponents have generated elevated hard-hit and barrel rates, creating the risk that his road struggles continue inside a hitter-friendly indoor environment.
Rea must avoid issuing walks ahead of Milwaukee’s middle-order bats. Turang, Yelich, and Contreras can extend innings through plate discipline before Chourio, Vaughn, or the remaining power hitters receive opportunities with runners aboard.
The Cubs primarily need length rather than dominance. Five or six innings with three earned runs would keep Chicago within striking distance and prevent the bullpen from covering another extended workload.
Milwaukee counters with right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who enters at 8-3 with a 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts across 93 innings.
Misiorowski leads Major League Baseball in ERA and strikeouts. He has also produced a 0.55 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts across his last seven starts.
The right-hander has allowed one or zero earned runs in eight of his last nine appearances. His only defeat during that stretch came against Atlanta despite another quality performance.
Misiorowski allowed two earned runs on five hits over six innings against the Braves, striking out seven and walking one. The result ended Milwaukee’s winning streak in his starts without changing the underlying quality of his performance.
His most dominant recent outing came against Philadelphia on June 12. Misiorowski threw a complete-game one-hit shutout and recorded 15 strikeouts.
The fastball remains the foundation of his success. Misiorowski can overpower hitters at the top of the strike zone before using his slider and curveball to generate swings beneath it.
Improved command has transformed him from a volatile power arm into one of baseball’s most complete starters. Hitters can no longer wait for walks or predictable fastball counts as frequently as they could earlier in his career.
Chicago must attempt to increase his pitch count through patience. Busch, Happ, Bregman, and Hoerner are capable of producing competitive plate appearances, but the Cubs also possess several hitters with elevated strikeout potential.
Misiorowski already demonstrated that he can control this lineup. He completed six scoreless innings against Chicago in May and did not allow the Cubs to generate sustained pressure.
The Cubs are currently hitting better than they were during that series, particularly through Crow-Armstrong. Misiorowski’s broader performance still carries more predictive weight than Chicago’s recent offensive streak.
He has completed at least six innings in five consecutive starts. Milwaukee should allow him to work deep again if his command remains intact, even with a rested bullpen behind him.
Game Thesis: Milwaukee owns the stronger starting pitcher, fresher bullpen, more favourable platoon matchups, and the advantage of playing at home. Chicago enters in excellent form, but Misiorowski has allowed one or zero earned runs in eight of his last nine starts and already threw six scoreless innings against the Cubs this season. Rea’s 7.19 road ERA and struggles against left-handed hitters create a path for Milwaukee to build a multi-run advantage before reaching its rested late-inning relievers. The Brewers -1.5 run line is preferable to the expensive moneyline, while Under 7.5 fits a projected 5-1 Milwaukee victory.
Best Bet - Spread Pick: Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (-100)
Milwaukee -1.5 is the strongest wager because the run line offers a near-even return while avoiding the heavy price attached to the Brewers moneyline.
The starting-pitching advantage is substantial. Misiorowski enters with a 1.45 ERA and 0.75 WHIP, while Rea carries a 4.99 ERA and has struggled badly away from Wrigley Field.
Milwaukee should also receive repeated platoon advantages. Rea has allowed left-handed hitters to produce at a high rate, and the Brewers can surround Contreras and Chourio with Turang, Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, and Bauers.
Misiorowski has given Milwaukee consistent length and run prevention. He has completed at least six innings in five straight starts and has allowed only three earned runs across his last seven appearances.
Chicago’s recent winning streak creates some risk. The Cubs have won six of seven and just swept a four-game series at Citi Field, demonstrating that they can remain competitive even when trailing late.
The bullpen conditions make another late comeback less likely. Chicago used four relievers Thursday after playing a doubleheader Wednesday, while Milwaukee rested Thursday and should have Megill, Ashby, Uribe, and its other leverage arms available.
The Brewers have already defeated Chicago by multiple runs twice during their three victories in the season series. Another score around 5-1 or 4-1 supports Milwaukee -1.5 at a much more attractive price than the moneyline.
Total Pick: Under 7.5 (+100)
Under 7.5 is the preferred total because Misiorowski has consistently prevented opposing lineups from contributing enough runs to produce high-scoring games.
The Brewers right-hander owns a 1.45 ERA and has allowed only three earned runs across his last seven starts. He also held Chicago scoreless over six innings during the first meeting.
Chicago may need to score three runs merely to give the Over a realistic chance. Misiorowski’s current form and Milwaukee’s rested bullpen make that difficult.
Rea creates the primary threat to the Under. His road ERA exceeds 7.00, and Milwaukee’s left-handed hitters can exploit his most significant platoon weakness.
The Brewers could threaten the total without much help from Chicago if Rea exits early. A short start would expose a Cubs bullpen that worked throughout the Mets series.
Milwaukee does not need to score aggressively once it establishes a lead. Misiorowski’s run prevention allows the Brewers to protect a three- or four-run advantage without forcing offensive risks.
The total also provides limited room for bullpen volatility, but Milwaukee should have its preferred relievers available. A projected 5-1 result remains comfortably below 7.5.
Top Player Prop Picks for Cubs vs Brewers
Jacob Misiorowski Over 17.5 Outs Recorded (-128): Misiorowski needs to complete six innings to clear this prop, something he has accomplished in five consecutive starts. He has averaged approximately seven innings across that stretch, including a complete-game shutout against Philadelphia. Misiorowski completed six scoreless innings against Chicago during the first meeting and should again be allowed to work deep if he controls the strike zone. Milwaukee’s rested bullpen removes the need to overextend him, but his efficiency and run prevention still support at least 18 outs.
Brice Turang Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-128, DraftKings): Turang receives the platoon advantage against Rea and should bat near the top of Milwaukee’s order. He has been substantially more productive at American Family Field and has also performed well against right-handed pitching. Rea has allowed left-handed hitters to bat above .300, giving Turang multiple paths to clear this combination prop. One hit followed by a run, one run-producing extra-base hit, or two hits would be enough.
Colin Rea Over 2.5 Earned Runs (+100): Rea has posted a road ERA above 7.00 and has allowed significantly more production to left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. Milwaukee can use at least four or five left-handed bats against him, including Turang, Yelich, Frelick, Mitchell, and Bauers. The Brewers have also produced some of their strongest offensive numbers against right-handed pitching during June. Rea has allowed at least four earned runs in several road appearances, and the even-money price supports another outing with three or more earned runs allowed.
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