Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks, Player Props & Odds for Game 2

• The Brewers can take a 2-0 stranglehold on the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLDS tonight
• Shota Imanaga faces a Brewers lineup that has excelled against lefties all season
• See the Game 2 Cubs vs Brewers picks, predictions, and player props to bet, plus the latest odds

Fresh off a dominant 9-3 win, the Milwaukee Brewers (97-65, 52-29 home) can put the Chicago Cubs (92-70, 42-39 away) on the precipice of elimination tonight in Game 2 of their best-of-five NLDS tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 pm CT/9:08 pm ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee turns to left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby (2.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), who will serve as an opener, potentially for righty Quinn Priester (3.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP). Chicago goes back to lefty Shota Imanaga (3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) who gave up two runs on three hits and two walks over just 4.0 innings in Game 2 of Chicago’s Wild Card series against San Diego.

Below, see my Cubs vs Brewers picks for Game 2, plus the main player props, pitcher-vs-batter stats, and the updated odds.

Go to: Picks || Player Props || Pitcher-vs-Hitter Stats || Game 2 Odds

Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs Pick for Game 2

• Milwaukee Brewers moneyline (-135) at bet365

After starting the season looking like a Cy Young contender, Shota Imanaga has been in a significant downturn, especially of late, posting a 6.51 ERA over his last five starts and struggling with command. He now faces a Brewers team that ranked as the best offense in MLB against left-handed pitching this season. As you’ll see below, he doesn’t have terrible stats against the Milwaukee lineup as a whole, but key hitters like William Contreras and Christian Yelich have hit him hard.

Milwaukee is poised to put up runs early and force the Cubs into their bullpen, which has been inconsistent. On the other side, Aaron Ashby is expected to be a short-stint opener for a Brewers bullpen that has been reliable and boasts a statistical edge over Chicago’s.

If you’re looking for trends that support a play on the Brewers, there are ample: Milwaukee is an impressive 12-5 (.706) in its last 17 home games against teams with a winning record and is 5-2 as a home favorite in their last seven. The Cubs, meanwhile, have been dreadful on the road recently, losing their last five away games and their last five on the road against winning opponents. The Cubs are also just 1-4 (.200) on the road in their last five games following a loss.

Given the Brewers’ potent offense against left-handers and sizable bullpen advantage and home-field dominance, Milwaukee is solid value at modest -135 odds (57.45% implied win probability).

Brewers vs Cubs Game 2 Player Props

MLB player props as of October 6 at BetMGM.

Aaron Ashby’s lines for strikeouts (1.5) and outs (5.5) confirm he is slated for a brief appearance as an opener. Imanaga’s earned runs line is just 1.5 but with heavy juice on the over (-182).

For hitters, William Contreras has a total bases line of 1.5 (+115) and has crushed two home runs off Imanaga in just 10 career at-bats, making his over an attractive play (especially at the +119 price tag Underdog). Similarly, Christian Yelich (1.5 total bases at +135) has also homered off Imanaga and presents good value.

Best Cubs vs Brewers Player Prop to Bet: Contreras Over 1.5 Total Bases

Pitcher-vs-Hitter Stats: Imanaga vs Ashby

The Cubs have a total of 52 at-bats against Ashby, who – as mentioned – won’t be asked to pitch more than a couple innings. Ashby pitched 1.1 scoreless in Game 1. He didn’t give up a hit or a walk while striking out one (#8 hitter Dansby Swanson).

Cubs Stats vs Aaron Ashby

Ashby has limited the Cubs to a .231 average and .638 OPS though some hitters have a solid track record against the 27-year-old lefty; Seiya Suzuki is 2-for-6 with two doubles and a walk (1.095 OPS). Ian Happ is 3-for-10 with a home run (.900 OPS)

Brewers Stats vs Shota Imanaga

The Brewers lineup has more at-bats against Imanaga (82) and been more productive, generating a .244 average and .734 OPS. Four different Brewers have gone yard off Imanaga: William Contreras (twice), Blake Perkins, Brice Turang, and Christian Yelich.

Perkins (2.750 OPS in four at-bats) and Contreras (1.264 OPS in 10 at-bats) have the strongest overall track records against the Chicago lefty, though Perkins’ sample size is a touch too small to be overly relevant.

MIL Brewers vs CHI Cubs Odds

As of 5:41 pm ET, the Brewers were -135 or shorter, while the Cubs were as long as +115 to even the series. That represents a sizable shift from earlier in the day, when Milwaukee was just -120 to take Game 2. The game total has held steady at 7.5 with the over slightly juiced at most books.

The best price bettors can currently find on the Milwaukee runline (-1.5) is +152 at FanDuel. If you want to bet Chicago +1.5, you’ll have to stomach -178 odds at Caesars (or even shorter elsewhere).