Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Dodgers Picks and Predictions August 14th 2024

Dodgers’ Walker Buehler set to return to face Brewers

At 8:10 PM ET, the Dodgers and Brewers will square off in an NL matchup. This one is being played at American Family Field in Milwaukee, and the Brewers are slight home underdogs on the money line (+113). The money line odds have the Dodgers at -133, and they are the 1st place team in the NL West with a record of 71-49. Milwaukee is 1st in the NL Central at 67-52.

SNLA will be televising Wednesday’s Dodgers game, and the over/under line is currently at 9 runs. Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers, while the Brewers are sending Frankie Montas to the mound.

Los Angeles vs. Milwaukee Key Information

• Teams: Dodgers at Brewers
• Where: American Family Field Milwaukee
• Date: Wednesday, August 14th
• Betting Odds LAD -133 | MIL +113 O/U 9

The Dodgers Can Win If…

Walker Buehler gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Brewers on the road. So far this season, he has made eight starts and has a record of 1-4 with an ERA of 5.84. Buehler’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.51. Looking at his numbers on the road, Buehler is 0-2 with a 9.4 ERA. At home, he is 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA. Buehler’s last outing came against the Rockies, where he gave up seven earned runs in four innings of work. He finished with a no-decision in that outing.

Shohei Ohtani has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 37 homers is 2nd in the MLB and leads the Dodgers. Ohtani also has 86 RBIs, which is 6th in the league. However, he has struggled a bit of late, hitting just .162 over his last nine games. Teoscar Hernandez has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 12/38 with three homers in this stretch.

Overall, the Dodgers have been one of the league’s top offenses this season, as they are 5th in runs per game and have the 3rd most homers in the league. They also have the 2nd best team on-base percentage and are 3rd in slugging. As a team, the Dodgers are batting .252.

• The Dodgers are 8-2 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Dodgers are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Dodgers have an average of 6.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Dodgers are 5-5
• Looking back across the Dodgers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Los Angeles has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Dodgers have averaged 4.8 runs per game on offense

The Brewers Can Win If…

Frankie Montas will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Braves, as he gets the start for the Brewers today. Against the Braves, he finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in four innings of work. Looking back over his last four starts, Montas has finished with a no-decision in three of them. The right-hander has a record of 5-8 this season, along with an ERA of 5.10 and WHIP of 1.46. Montas’ ERA at home is 5.98 compared to 6.8 on the road. So far, he has made six quality starts this year.

William Contreras has been swinging a hot bat for the Brewers, going 8/22 in his last six games with three homers and six RBIs. For the season, he is batting .285 and is 3rd on the team with 15 homers. Willy Adames has also been a key power source for the Brewers, as his 21 homers is the best mark on the team and 10th in the league. Adames also comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak.

As a team, the Brewers are 7th in the league at 4.8 runs per game. They have been good at home and on the road this season and are one of the top home run hitting teams in the league. Overall, they are batting .255 (5th) and have the league’s 2nd best on-base percentage.

• The Brewers are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Brewers are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Milwaukee has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Brewers have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Brewers are 7-3
• Looking back across the Brewers last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Milwaukee has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Brewers have averaged 6.2 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Today’s Dodgers and Brewers matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 9th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over. As for a straight-up pick, we are leaning towards the Dodgers to come out on top. Los Angeles starter Walker Buehler has the highest innings pitched projection in the league today and is 5th in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to welcome back starting pitcher Walker Buehler, just in time to fill a crucial gap in their rotation as they face the Milwaukee Brewers in a pivotal series. Buehler’s return comes on the heels of River Ryan’s season-ending elbow injury, leaving the Dodgers in need of a reliable arm to maintain their current momentum.

Buehler’s Comeback: A Timely Boost for the Dodgers

Buehler, who holds a 1-4 record with a 5.84 ERA this season, will make his first start since June 18. His return couldn’t be more timely for the Dodgers, who have been on a five-game winning streak, pushing their record to 71-49, tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the best in Major League Baseball. The Dodgers have been firing on all cylinders, with players like Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Gavin Lux, and Andy Pages contributing significantly to their recent success, as seen in their 7-2 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday.

High Expectations for Buehler’s Performance

Despite a challenging season plagued by injuries, Buehler understands the high expectations placed upon him as he re-enters the Dodgers’ rotation. “The standard here is different. It’s not just, ‘Work through it and take your lumps,'” Buehler said. “I expect to throw the way I used to, but it’s not just me that expects that. It’s our standard of what we’re trying to accomplish here.”

After undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery, Buehler made eight starts before landing on the injured list due to right hip inflammation. His recent rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City was promising, where he allowed just one run and struck out five over 5 1/3 innings in his final start, throwing 85 pitches. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Buehler’s readiness, stating, “I honestly think this is as confident, as good as Walker has felt — physically and mentally — this year.”

Milwaukee Brewers: A Team in Turmoil

The Brewers, on the other hand, are facing significant challenges. They have lost three straight games and nine of their last ten meetings with the Dodgers, including four of five this season. Milwaukee’s offense has been particularly inconsistent, scoring three runs or fewer in each of their last four games after a brief stretch where they managed to put up 42 runs in four games. In Tuesday’s loss to the Dodgers, the Brewers were held to just six hits, with manager Pat Murphy expressing frustration with the team’s approach at the plate. “I can’t say I particularly like the approaches (at the plate) or anything like that,” Murphy said. “I don’t know exactly what they were thinking at the time.”

Pitching Matchup: Buehler vs. Montas

Buehler’s return will be met with high expectations, especially given his strong history against the Brewers. He is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against Milwaukee, adding to the anticipation surrounding his comeback. The Brewers will counter with right-hander Frankie Montas, who has struggled since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on July 30. Montas, who holds a 5-8 record with a 5.10 ERA this season, has a history of difficulty against the Dodgers, with an 11.57 ERA in three career starts against them. The Dodgers’ potent lineup, led by Ohtani and Mookie Betts, who have a combined 16 hits and six home runs against Montas, poses a significant threat to the Brewers’ hopes of turning the tide in this series.

Conclusion: High Stakes and High Expectations

Buehler’s return marks a critical moment for the Dodgers as they continue their push towards the postseason. With the team riding high on a winning streak and Buehler determined to meet the high standards set by himself and the organization, the Dodgers appear well-positioned to extend their dominance over the Brewers. For Milwaukee, the challenge is clear: they must find a way to overcome their recent struggles and contend with a Dodgers team that is showing no signs of slowing down.

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