MLB picks: Brewers vs. Cubs, Padres vs. Dodgers

A nationally-televised matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs highlights a relatively quiet Thursday for baseball. We’ll break down that tilt from a betting perspective, as well as the series finale between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Milwaukee Brewers (7-9) vs. Chicago Cubs (12-3), 7:10 p.m. ET, FOX

The surging Cubs should make light work of the Brewers behind Yu Darvish and their powerful offense on Thursday night.

Chicago’s bats have been a driving force behind their 8-1 record over their last nine games. The Cubs have averaged 5.27 runs per game on the year, second only to the Rockies (5.72). Former MVP Kris Bryant and company will set their sights on Brett Anderson, who’s a mediocre 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA through two starts this season.

Darvish was tagged for three runs in just four innings of work against Milwaukee in his first start of the year, but like many starters at the beginning of the 2020 campaign, he may not have been truly ready. Prior to that effort, Darvish had a 0.82 ERA over his last four starts against the Brewers. Backing him up here is a much-improved Cubs bullpen that’s sixth in WHIP (1.12) since the start of August.

MLB free pick: Cubs run line

San Diego Padres (11-8) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (12-7), 9:40 p.m. ET

It’s been a fairly low-scoring series between the Padres and Dodgers, with the NL West rivals combining for just 17 runs through three games (5.67 per contest). The fourth and final contest between these teams at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night should follow the trend.

San Diego starter Chris Paddack (2-1, 3.18 ERA) has two quality starts in four efforts this year and was an out away from a third one on Saturday against the Diamondbacks. One of those quality starts came against the Dodgers on Aug. 3, as he held L.A. to three runs over six frames in a 5-4 victory. Paddack’s 1.01 WHIP on the season is hard to knock. He’ll be backed by a bullpen that sports a scant 0.92 WHIP so far this series.

Dodgers starter Julio Urias has seen plenty of the Padres in his brief career, though mostly in relief. Regardless, his 1.76 ERA over 15 1/3 innings against the Friars is solid. Urias has been reliable for L.A. in 2020, going 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA over three appearances. Behind him is a Dodger bullpen that has pitched 11 2/3 innings in this series without allowing an earned run.

MLB free pick: Under