The Milwaukee Brewers head west for a three game series vs the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a disappointing weekend for the Brew Crew, as they dropped 2 out of 3 to the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee could have won all three games, but came away only salvaging Sunday’s series finale. Eric Lauer gets the ball for the Brewers, while the Dodgers trot out lefty Julio Urias. The Dodgers are heavy favorites in this matchup, sitting at -270 on the moneyline, while the Brewers are +220 underdogs.
Eric Lauer’s Success vs Dodgers
The Brewers are undervalued in this matchup due to the success Eric Lauer has had vs the vaunted Dodgers lineup. Despite taking a loss to the Dodgers last week, Lauer threw 7 innings of 4-hit baseball, giving up 2 solo home runs and striking out 7. It was a tough-luck loss for Lauer, as the offense did not give him any run support. He pitched well enough to win. Dating back to 2018 when he was a member of the Padres, Lauer is 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 career starts vs the Dodgers. Additionally, Dodger Stadium tends to be a pitcher’s park, especially at night. I expect Lauer to pitch well enough to keep the Brewers competitive late into this game.
Finding an Offensive Spark
The Brewers faced Julio Urias last week, and were not able to muster any offense. However, they had traffic on the base paths early in that game but were not able to cash in. The Crew had 2 runners on with nobody out in the first and third innings, but came up empty both times. With how well Lauer was pitching, runs early in the game could have completely changed the outcome. I expect Lauer to pitch well again. If the Brewers can stay patient with Urias and find a way to cash in some runs early, they should have a chance late in this game. I also expect Keston Hiura to be in the lineup tonight, looking to build on his 2-homer game Sunday. He may be the spark this offense needs, as he has an OPS of 1.112, batting average of .292 and 4 home runs in the month of August.
Good Betting Opportunity
Urias is a tough customer on the mound, but I really think the +220 moneyline price is a great spot to back the Brewers. Lauer makes his first start since making very frank comments about the morale in the clubhouse and direction of the team after the Josh Hader Trade. I expect Lauer to be focused and keep the Brewers close in to the late innings, and at that point one swing of the bat can decide the game. With a nice juicy payout, the Brewers are worth a play on the moneyline tonight.
Bet: Brewers Moneyline
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