After dropping Game 1 of the NLDS, the Chicago Cubs now face an almost must-win Game 2 tonight with Shota Imanaga on the mound as the Cubs vs. Brewers first pitch is set for 9:08 p.m. on TBS.
Below, we'll breakdown our Cubs vs. Brewers predictions and PrizePicks picks tonight in Game 2, following Game 2 of the other NLDS series between the Dodgers vs. Phillies.
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Brewers young star Jackson Chourio may not play tonight after exiting Game 1 early with a hamstring injury. Chourio was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs in Game 1 and is a key piece for the Brewers, ranking 2nd on the team in home runs (21), 3rd in RBIs (58), and 3rd in runs scored (88), despite playing just 131 games.
His loss may be especially important with lefty Imanaga on the mound, as Chourio has an absurd 168 wRC+ vs. lefty pitchers.
With the Cubs flirting elimination and the Brewers looking to capitalize at home, this Game 2 in Milwaukee carries massive weight. In a best-of-five series, teams that fall behind 0-2 almost never come back, making tonight a pivotal swing game in the National League Wild Card.
Cubs vs. Brewers Picks for NLDS Game 2 Tonight
Here are the top Cubs vs. Brewers picks and predictions for PrizePicks today. Use this analysis to build your Lineups on PrizePicks MLB on Monday, October 6. Click to read more about each pick.
- Cubs P Shota Imanaga Projection: 19.5 Pitcher Fantasy Score
- Brewers P Aaron Ashby Projection: 1.5 Hits Allowed
- Brewers C William Contreras Projection: 5.5 Hitter Fantasy Score
Cubs P Shota Imanaga Projection: 19.5 Pitcher Fantasy Score
- In his last 108 plate appearances, Shota Imanaga has allowed a 17.5% barrel rate, a 72% hard-hit rate, and a 35% fly ball rate, rather concerning numbers.
- Shota has surrendered 3 or more earned runs in six of his last seven starts, showing a clear downward trend.
- Over his last two outings (just 9.2 innings), he’s allowed 10 earned runs while recording only 6 strikeouts.
- Against the Milwaukee Brewers this season, Shota owns a 3.57 ERA over 17 innings, allowing 12 hits, 7 earned runs, and 3 home runs.
- Right-handed hitters have a favorable split against Shota; in 420 plate appearances, they own a 13% barrel rate and a 40% fly ball rate, which benefits a hitter like William Contreras.
- Shota Imanaga only threw 67 pitches in his last outing and is on four days of rest. He should have a short leash again in a must-win for the Cubs.
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Brewers P Aaron Ashby Projection: 1.5 Hits Allowed
- Aaron Ashby will be used in an opener role before he's expected to give way to Quinn Priester in long relief.
- Ashby has not gone past two innings in eight of his last nine outings, typically operating on a short leash.
- In his last 62 plate appearances, Ashby has allowed only a 5% barrel rate, 50% hard-hit rate, and a very low 17.5% fly ball rate.
- Against the Chicago Cubs, Ashby has held Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Justin Turner to a combined 1-for-17.
- Over his last three starts, Ashby has not allowed a single hit, further suggesting his use in a limited playoff game script.
Brewers C William Contreras Projection: 5.5 Hitter Fantasy Score
- In his career against Shota Imanaga, William Contreras owns 3 hits in 10 at bats, with 2 of those hits being home runs, giving him a .300 batting average in the matchup.
- Against left-handed fastballs this season (Shota throws his fastball 40% of the time), Contreras owns a 38% fly ball rate, 47% hard-hit rate, and an 8.8% barrel rate across 52 plate appearances.
- In his first playoff game against the Cubs, Contreras recorded 2 hits, including a double and an RBI.
- Right-handed hitters have a favorable split against Shota; in 420 plate appearances, they own a 13% barrel rate and a 40% fly ball rate, which benefits a hitter like William Contreras.
Make Cubs vs. Brewers Picks on PrizePicks
The Brewers have a chance to get a huge edge in the NLDS tonight, but if they do, they'll have to do so likely without their star Chourio. Regardless, this game has a ton riding on it.
Monday's Cubs vs. Brewers game provides plenty of MLB action to make your predictions as Shota will look to bounce back from his horrible first postseason outing.
No matter how you think it plays out, you can cash in on your MLB playoff predictions on PrizePicks. All you have to do is pick More or Less on at least two player stats — like hits+runs+RBIs or strikeouts — to win.
Whether you’re going with pitchers or hitters, there’s always real money sports action waiting for you on PrizePicks in the MLB pplayoffs. Stay locked in on the Playbook through the World Series for MLB picks every day.
