The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers meet this afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field.
Freddy Peralta takes the hill for the visitors, and my Brewers vs. Cubs predictions are expecting the righty to bring his swing-and-miss stuff here.
Read more in my MLB picks for Monday, August 18.
Brewers vs Cubs Game 1 prediction
Brewers vs Cubs best bet: Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 strikeouts (-115)
There was some trade buzz surrounding Freddy Peralta leading up to the deadline, but he stayed put, and for good reason.
The right-hander is having a stellar campaign for the surging Milwaukee Brewers, going 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 25 starts. He’s struck out 148 hitters in just 136 1/3 innings of work, too, and hat will be the focus for today’s outing.
Peralta has cashed the Over in punchouts in back-to-back appearances, sitting down seven via the K last time out against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also struck out another seven batters before that versus the Atlanta Braves.
Although he had only three punchouts just a few weeks ago against the Chicago Cubs, there is reason to believe it will be a different story this afternoon.
Firstly, across three starts this season against Chicago, Peralta has 16 Ks in 15 innings.
Additionally, Peralta is pitching extremely well and striking out a lot of batters right now. He’s struck out 67 in 63 innings on the road as well.
The Brew Crew have also won 14 of their last 15 games, with their historic streak just ending on Sunday. He’ll be poised to bring his best and keep the Cubbies off balance.
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Caesars QuickPick: Our Brewers vs Cubs Game 1 same-game parlay (SGP)
When a team is as hot as Milwaukee, it’s hard to not ride the wave. The Brewers have also won three of the last four against the Cubs.
Milwaukee is one of the better road ball clubs in the big leagues. They’ve gone 36-25 away from American Family Field, and having their ace on the bump is always going to give the Brewers an extra dose of confidence.
While Peralta has had his way with a lot of Chicago’s lineup, that hasn’t been the case against Pete Crow-Armstrong. The phenom is 5-for-9 lifetime versus Peralta with a double and a home run. He’s hitting .261 on the year and has cashed the Over in hits in two of his last three.
Brewers vs Cubs Game 1 odds
- Moneyline: Milwaukee +131 | Chicago -145
- Run line: Milwaukee +1.5 | Chicago -1.5
- Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Brewers vs Cubs Game 1 trend
The Brewers have hit the moneyline in 57 of their last 77 games (+34.95 Units / 34% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs Cubs.
How to watch Brewers vs Cubs and game info
| Location | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Monday, August 18, 2025 |
| First pitch | 2:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN Wisconsin, Marquee |
| Brewers starting pitcher | Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90 ERA) |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Cade Horton (7-3, 3.07 ERA) |
Brewers vs Cubs latest injuries
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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