MLB Free Pick of the Day — Friday, July 26

By: Al Walsh – Follow him on  Twitter @14AdotWalsh
* 2019 MLB Record: 158-128-7 (55.5%) *

Hey, everyone! SpreadKnowledge is going with a new format for our free article/mailer from here on out. We’ve teamed up Covers and started posting our picks to their site — For our highest-rated picks, you can sign up here or at SpreadKnowledge.com.

We’ll be posting one pick here in this space each day for free. Know that it does have a high value, but it just won’t be the highest-rated one from the SK system. Continue to follow us along in this journey, because there are plenty of good things on the way!

[8:10 p.m. EST] Chicago Cubs (ML: -104) at Milwaukee Brewers
CHC: Kyle Hendricks – R (7-8, 3.41 ERA/1.14 WHIP)
MIL: Gio Gonzalez – L (2-1, 3.60 ERA/1.26 WHIP)

Tonight’s free pick is the Cubs winning outright over the Brewers. The SpreadKnowledge system has a B+ grade for Chicago in this meeting and a lot of that has to do with its starting pitcher on the mound.

Kyle Hendricks has done a fine job against this Brewers team over his career, posting an 8-6 record in 20 career starts to go along with a 3.22 ERA/1.13 WHIP. The methodical righty has only allowed nine extra-base hits (7 doubles, 2 HR) in 172 plate appearances to the current Milwaukee roster. Hendricks has looked sharp since coming off the injured list, especially in his last two outings – both of which were quality starts. It’s also worth mentioning, Hendricks has only allowed four hits and two runs in each of his last four starts — all in the month of July.

Gio Gonzalez was shut down for a bit at the end of May with arm fatigue, but he was able to come back and make one start before tonight’s appearance. It wasn’t the greatest outing (4 IP, 5 H/2 BB, 3 ER) against the D-Backs, but they are one of the better teams against left-handed pitching. It’s not like the Cubs are a slouch either, though. There are plenty of right-handed bats in this lineup like Kris Bryant, Javy Baez and Willson Contreras that can make life difficult on Gonzalez. Not to mention, Anthony Rizzo is one of the best left-on-left hitters in all of baseball.

This game will likely have plenty of bullpen pitching in it. However, if the Cubs do indeed get off to an early lead like we think they will, it shouldn’t matter too much, considering the Brewers have the edge there. Nonetheless, we’ll join the rest of Chicago and fly that gorgeous flag.

Cubbies win!

* Final Score Prediction * Chicago Cubs: 4 – Milwaukee Brewers: 2