The Milwaukee Brewers (39-34) are set to face the Chicago Cubs (44-28) in a crucial matchup at Wrigley Field. Chad Patrick is expected to take the mound for the Brewers, while the Cubs will counter with Ben Brown. As both teams come into this game refreshed after a day off, the Cubs hold a significant 5.5-game lead in the NL Central. Recent performance shows both teams are .500 in their last ten games, raising the stakes for this divisional clash.

Betting odds reflect the Cubs as slight favorites at -149 on the moneyline, compared to the Brewers at +125. The spread is set at 1.5 runs in favor of the Cubs, and the total for the game is pegged at 9.0 runs. Recent trends favor the Cubs, having won 6 of their last 8 matchups against NL Central opponents, while the Brewers have kept things tight on the road, covering in 4 of their last 5 games. Projections suggest a lean towards the Cubs for the moneyline, the Brewers for the spread, and the under for total runs.

The Chicago Cubs are set to face the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia, with Ben Brown on the mound for the Cubs and Jesús Luzardo pitching for the Phillies. The Cubs managed to tie the series 1-1 after an 8-4 win, but the Phillies are struggling, having lost 10 of their last 12 games and 3 straight with Luzardo as the starter. As they prepare for the matchup, analysts are weighing in on betting odds, team performances, and player stats.

According to the latest betting lines, the Cubs are at +105 while the Phillies are favored at -125. The spread is set at 1.5 runs in favor of the Phillies, with an over/under of 9 runs for the total. Brown brings a 3-4 record with a 5.37 ERA, while Luzardo has a 5-2 record with a 4.46 ERA. With both teams in need of a win, this game could prove pivotal as the Cubs try to gain ground and the Phillies aim to snap their losing streak.

The Chicago Cubs are facing a pivotal moment in their rotation amidst Shota Imanaga's hamstring recovery. With a 14-8 record since his injury, the team has relied on Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, Matt Boyd, and rookie Cade Horton to step up, but inconsistency persists. Recent struggles were highlighted in a 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, where Rea's performance faltered, significantly impacting his ERA.

With the Cubs snapping a four-game winning streak, manager Craig Counsell's decision to employ Drew Pomeranz as an opener points to a strategic shift to address first-inning challenges, particularly with Ben Brown's struggles. Despite the bumps in the road, the Cubs are experimenting with unconventional methods in an effort to find a winning formula.

Week 8 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season brings an exciting slate of two-start pitchers, with a total of 36 scheduled across various matchups. Among these, many are available in less than 50% of leagues, making them prime streaming candidates for fantasy managers looking to bolster their pitching stats. Key names include Walker Buehler facing the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles, and Ryan Pepiot against the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays. Both pitchers present solid options for volume and performance.

For deeper leagues, Ben Brown of the Chicago Cubs might be a tempting choice, despite a challenging schedule. He holds a respectable strikeout rate but has been inconsistent this season. Will Warren from the New York Yankees is also an intriguing streamer, although his upcoming outing at Coors Field raises some concerns. On the more risk-averse end, pitchers like Gavin Williams and Mitch Keller have shown flashes of brilliance but are fraught with volatility. Each brings unique risk-reward scenarios that could sway fantasy outcomes significantly.

The Chicago Cubs are set to face the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento, CA, in what promises to be an intriguing matchup. With the Cubs at 2-4 and the Athletics at 2-2, both teams are eager for a victory. The Cubs will send Ben Brown (0-1) to the mound, looking to bounce back after a tough outing against the Dodgers. He'll be opposed by the Athletics' Joey Estes, who has yet to record a decision this season.

Betting odds favor the Cubs slightly at -128 on the moneyline, with a spread of -1.5. The total runs set at 8.0 suggests a potential high-scoring game, given both teams' offensive capabilities. The A's are 3-1 against the spread this season, while the Cubs are 2-4. Expert picks lean toward betting on the Cubs for both the moneyline and the spread, with a recommended over on the total runs.