Posted on
5/7/2008 11:58:19 AM
MLB Baseball Betting - Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds
By Mike Rose
The Cubs were in dire need of a victory last night, so Carlos Zambrano answered the call with flying colors. He outpitched the Reds Aaron Harang in the Cubs 3-0 victory. The “W” flag waves proudly atop Wrigley’s centerfield bleachers for the first time in three games, and Carlos Zambrano improved his mark to 10-4 the L/14 times he pitched after a Chicago loss in their previous game. He ended up tossing eight shutout innings of three hit ball with a K/BB ratio of 3/3. He has tossed at least six innings in each start this season and Tuesday marked the seventh time in eight turns this season that Zambrano has permitted two runs or less. Harang was solid over seven innings, allowing three runs and seven hits with six strikeouts before departing after seven. Once again, however, the Reds' ace was doomed by his offense, which has provided him a total of 15 runs of support in his eight starts this season. The Cubs are now 3-2 against Cincinnati this season.
Looking to earn his club the series win this afternoon will be Jon Lieber who has been inserted into the starting rotation due to Rich Hill’s control issues. He hasn’t started a game since last season when he was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, but he’s done a great job in his long relief efforts this year. He’s 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He’s allowed 21 hits and four earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 9/2 in 19 1/3rd innings of work. Lieber has owned Cincinnati throughout his career positing a 9-4 mark with a 3.43 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
Opposing him will be Cincy’s bright spot in the rotation, Edinson Volquez. The young righty comes into this afternoon’s start sporting a 4-1 mark with a miniscule 1.27 ERA. He’s only allowed 24 hits and five earned runs with an impressive K/BB ratio of 42/18 in just over 35 innings of work. The kids been simply sensational allowing one or less earned runs in all five of his starts, and he’s pitched through the seventh inning in two of his L/3 starts. His pitch count got the best of him in his start at Wrigley earlier this season, but it was good enough to allow the Reds to secure the 9-2 victory.
Oddsmakers opened Cincinnati up –140 home favorites with the ‘total’ set at 9 over –115. You can get down on both the ‘side’ and ‘total’ at BetUS.com right now!!!
With Tuesday night’s win, the Cubs are now 14-9 against NL Central opponents, and 8-8 on the road. However, they’re 1-4 their L/5 as a road underdog and 1-3 as a road underdog between +110 and +125. Cincinnati is 3-1 this year as a home favorite in the –125 to –150 range, and 19-7 the L/26 times they were installed chalks between –110 and –150. In other words, they win at a 73% clip when installed the decided favorite at home.
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