Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Milwaukee (+106) Chicago (-128)

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (29-17) will go up against the Milwaukee Brewers (26-17) on Monday. The moneyline on this game has Milwaukee at +106 and Chicago opens at -128. The total comes in at 8.5. The starting pitchers will be Brandon Sproat and Shota Imanaga.

The Brewers have accumulated 70 two-baggers as a team and have hit 27 baseballs out of the park. Milwaukee is slugging .357 and have struck out 337 times, while drawing a walk on 185 occasions. As a squad, the Milwaukee Brewers are scoring 5.1 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 6th in baseball. They have accrued 203 RBI's as well as 345 hits for the year, while their average at the plate sits at .245. They have a total of 212 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .334.

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The Brewers have compiled a team earned run average of 3.32 so far this season (4th in the league), and the staff has rung up 408 hitters. Brewers pitchers have given up 32 home runs and also 151 total runs (3rd in the league). They have walked 148 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 3.32 as a team so far this year. Milwaukee has yielded 310 hits (7.5 per 9 innings) and 138 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.76 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.22.

The Brewers relief pitchers have a save percentage of 61.9% and stepped onto the hill in 47 save situations. They have 13 saves for the year and have not converted 8 out of their 21 chances to save the game. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 55 runners this season and 36.4% of those players crossing home plate. Brewers bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 36 times in addition to having 45 appearances in high leverage situations. The Brewers have dispatched 138 relievers to the mound this season. The bullpen have accumulated 25 holds this season (14th in MLB).

The Milwaukee Brewers have notched a total of 1,123 putouts this season, as well as 337 assists and 19 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .987 which has them sitting 13th in professional baseball, and have earned 33 double plays. The Brewers have transformed 69.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 3,369 innings on the field, which ranks them 21st in MLB.

Sproat has pitched in 56 innings and has earned 53 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. Sproat (1-4 career record) has earned a FIP of 5.36 while going up against 238 batters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 5.44 (34 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.423. He has conceded 53 base knocks (8.5 hits per 9 innings) and has had 27 walks.

The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .404 and they are scoring 5.11 runs per game (3rd in the league). They have hit 69 doubles, while getting a free base 210 times and earning 230 runs. Chicago has accounted for 53 home runs on the campaign to go along with 212 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 366 occasions (19th in MLB) and have a total of 377 base hits. The Chicago Cubs have an on-base percentage of .343 and a team batting average of .247 for the year.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.193 with a FIP of 4.23 as a unit for the season. They have a ranking of 8th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 341. The Chicago pitching staff have yielded 182 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 3.80 (169 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.30 (367 strikeouts against 136 bases on balls). They have allowed 57 home runs and they give up 4.10 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB).

They sit at 15th in the league with a save rate of 62.5%, and they have sent 133 relief pitchers to the mound so far this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 46 times in high leverage situations and also on 46 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 30 save situations, the Cubs have earned 11 holds and also 6 blown saves. Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 16 save opportunities and they have come away with 10 saves. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 28.8% out of their 66 inherited runners.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 33 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .988 (12th in the majors). The Cubs have recorded 416 assists, 20 errors and have notched a total of 1,200 putouts so far this season. In their 3,600 innings on the diamond, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 72.5% (4th in professional baseball).

During his MLB career, Imanaga has allowed 302 base knocks while he has totaled 350 strikeouts in 372 innings pitched. He has given up 130 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 0.992 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.1. His strikeout to walk ratio is 5.22 and he has faced 1,472 batters during his MLB career. Imanaga (28-14 mark in his career) has earned a 3.14 ERA while surrendering 7.3 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Milwaukee (+106)

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