Brewers vs. Cubs Prediction and Odds for Saturday, April 1 (Trust Steele at Home)

The Brewers and Cubs continue their three-game series to open the season today, with Brandon Woodruff taking on Justin Steele after Chicago picked up a 4-0 win on Opening Day.

Steele ended last season with an excellent stretch, compiling a 0.96 ERA over his final five starts. He'll need his best stuff against Woodruff, who went 13-4 with a 3.05 ERA last season.

I think Steele is due for a huge year and I'll be looking to back him early and often. Today is no different, though let's take a look at the odds before I explain why.

Brewers vs. Cubs Odds, Total, and Spread

Brewers vs. Cubs Prediction and Pick

The Brewers are a team I expect to take a step back this year due to offensive ineptitude, so this is the perfect matchup for Justin Steele to strut his stuff.

Over his final six starts last year, the young lefty surrendered just three total earned runs with an impressive 45 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. That includes two strong starts against this same Milwaukee squad in which he allowed just one run in 11.1 innings with 15 strikeouts.

Woodruff is a difficult opponent, but I don't think he'll get the run support he needs to justify these odds. The Brewers were 23rd in OPS against left-handed pitchers last season and really struggled against Steele. In three games over the second half of the year, Milwaukee managed just six total hits and two runs against the rising star.

Getting plus odds to back Steele at home against a team he's achieved success against is a proposition I'll take every time. Back the Cubs to improve to 2-0 as Steele outduels Woodruff.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.