The New York Yankees host the Milwaukee Brewers for the second game of this interleague series on Saturday, March 29. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and YES and can be streamed on MLB.TV.
The Yankees took game one from the Brewers, 4-2, and will hand the ball to southpaw Max Fried, who inked an 8-year, $218 dollar contract in the offseason, on Saturday. Opposing him is Nestor Cortes Jr., a fellow lefty, who spent the past four seasons in the Bronx.
Find my Saturday MLB betting preview and Brewers vs Yankees prediction on the spread below, as well as picks for a same-game parlay.
My Brewers vs Yankees Predictions
- Brewers vs Yankees picks: Yankees -1.5 (+142, Play to +115)
My Brewers vs Yankees best bet is Yankees -1.5 (+142). Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Brewers vs Yankees Odds
| Brewers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -145 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +122 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -165 |
- Brewers vs Yankees Moneyline: Brewers +140, Yankees -165
- Brewers vs Yankees Total: 8.5 (-110/-110)
- Brewers vs Yankees Spread: Brewers +1.5 (-145), Yankees -1.5 (+122)
- Brewers vs Yankees Best Bet: Yankees Run Line -1.5
Brewers vs Yankees Preview, Prediction
Brewers Betting Preview: Fade Cortes Against Old Squad
It’ll be a revenge game for Cortes, whose final appearance with the Yankees resulted in a Freddie Freeman grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. Cortes was flipped for Devin Williams in the offseason and returns to the Bronx on Saturday.
I don’t think Cortes will add much to Milwaukee’s rotation other than eating innings. Although Cortes was a three-win player last year, he had a 3.77 ERA and a 3.84 FIP with a declining K rate. Couple that with the Yankees having a deep scouting report on how the southpaw wants to attack and it could be a tough debut for Cortes. I wasn't very high on Milwaukee adding Cortes, so this will be the first fade on a pitcher I'll likely fade often.
Of course, Spring Training stats are to be taken with a grain of salt given the small sample size and how pitchers tend to test things. That being said, in just two spring outings, Cortes posted a 6.00 ERA with nine strikeouts over six innings.
The Brewers' bats went pretty dry in the season opener. None of the top four hitters recorded a hit, going 0-for-15 with two walks. The biggest concern there is Jackson Chourio punching out in all five at-bats and Christian Yelich looking a bit overmatched. Those two need to hit better versus Fried, and Yelich is just 3-for-17 against him historically.
Yankees Betting Preview: Fried Makes NY Debut
After an injury to Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees' lineup has more lefties than righties, but lucked out by facing a righty in the opener. Paul Goldschmidt will lead off versus lefties instead of catcher Austin Wells, who led off game one with a homer off Freddy Peralta. The Brewers are very familiar with Goldschmidt, a former NL Central foe who spent the past six years in St. Louis.
The Yankees will likely start four lefties and two switch hitters versus Cortes. Traditionally, it would work better to have a few righties to fill in versus the lefty, but the Yankees don't have that luxury with their plethora of injuries.
I’m slightly more worried about the Yankees' offense lacking another right-handed slugger to help Aaron Judge. However, we’ll see if that ends up mattering because I think the Yankees have a stark advantage in every other category.
Fried will take the ball and make his Yankees debut. The 31-year-old ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity, the 89th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 96th percentile in ground-ball rate. He’s a soft contact machine with a plethora of pitches, but his command can be problematic at times. He walked 2.93 batters per nine innings last year, the second-highest mark of his career.
Additionally, the Friday off likely allows for Williams to be an option in the 'pen. He threw 36 pitches in the opener, but I'd imagine, if its a save situation, Aaron Boone will trot his star closer out to put away his former club.
Brewers vs Yankees Prediction: Run LineAnalysis
I don't see enough value in taking the at Yankees -155 on the moneyline. If the line were to drop below -150, I'd consider it. However, I like backing a pitcher like Fried, who can shut down the Brewers, at +130 on the -1.5 run line.
Pick: Yankees -1.5 (+142, Play to +115)
Moneyline
Nothing, unless it dips to -150 or better.
Run Line (Spread)
I like the Yankees run line.
Over/Under
I have no play on the Brewers vs. Yankees over/under.
Brewers vs Yankees Same-Game Parlay
- Paul Goldschmidt 2+ Total Bases
- Max Fried 5+ Strikeouts
- Joey Ortiz to Record a Hit
I always like to mix the teams in my SGP's to bring about the best possible odds. For the Yankees side of the SGP, I'll target Goldschmidt, who should get four or five at-bats. Secondly, Fried isn't a "strikeout" pitcher, but his stuff is electric and the Brewers appear strikeout prone early in the season. Lastly, I love Joey Ortiz's ability to put the bat on the ball and he has a favorable matchup against a lefty.
Brewers vs Yankees Betting Trends
Brewers vs Yankees Viewing Info: Channel, Saturday Start Time, Streaming
| Location: | Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. |
| Date: | Saturday, March 29 |
| Time: | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming Options: | FanDuel Sports Wisconsin; YES; MLB.TV |
