Backe, Astros Attack Carlos Zambrano, Cubbies

Yesterday afternoons MLB online betting affair between the (72-66) Houston Astros and (85-53) Chicago Cubs was all about Roy Oswalt who dominated the Cubs through nine shutout innings in the Astros 3-0 triumph.

The victory was Houston’s sixth in a row, and they enter tonight’s match-up winners in eight of their L/10 overall. At 33-37 overall on the road, the Astros have made MLB bettors upwards of $750 this season, and come into Game 2 of this series the fifth most lucrative team in all of baseball making the MLB wagering public $1600+ on the season.

This club has been on a tear since the All Star break securing victories in 28 of their 41 games, and they now sit 8.5-games in back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card race. The Cubs were lucky to have split their four game set with Philadelphia over the weekend, and carried their poor play over into yesterday’s Labor Day matinee where they looked disinterested throughout.

Lou Piniella’s clubs main problem of late has been its offenses lack of effectiveness. In its L/6 games, Chicago’s managed to plate a total of 16 runs which is half its seasonal output of 5.4 runs per game. Still, the Cubs have been the National League’s best MLB wager at home where they’re 51-22 on the year making the MLB gambling public close to $1700 on the season.

They were fortunate that red hot Milwaukee lost yesterday, so they still sit 4.5-games ahead of them for the top spot in the NL Central. Chicago’s been resilient off a loss of late winning 7 of the L/9 times, and they’re 10-6 in Game 2 of a series if they lost the opener.

Toeing the Wrigley bump for his 29th start of the season will be the Astros Brandon Backe whose 9-12 with a lofty 5.42 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. He’s won three of his L/5 overall starts, and is coming off a decent performance at home against Cincinnati where he tossed close to seven innings of two-run ball in Houston’s 3-2 victory.

Backe has suffered from inconsistency but is solid when he can keep his pitches down in the zone. The Astros are a poor 4-11 SU in his 15 road starts this season, and he got blown up the last time he started in this venue giving up nine hits (2 HR) and 11 runs in just 3 1/3rd innings of work. In his career against the Cubs, Backe’s 2-3 with a lofty 6.60 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in eight overall starts.

Carlos Zambrano was scratched from his previous start with what was said to be a “tired arm”. That said; the flamboyant Venezuelan hasn’t been at his best of late going 1-0 with a sorry 6.23 ERA and 1.79 WHIP allowing 18 hits and 12 earned runs with a K:BB ratio of 13:13 in just 17+ total innings of work.

The Cubs offense has bailed him out from losing, but the staff ace needs to resort to his previous form that saw him go 4-1 after his short DL stint at the end of June. He’s been at his best at home where he boasts an impressive 7-1 mark with a 2.96 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 14 overall starts.

Chicago’s 14-8 in his 22 career starts against Houston, and he owns a personal mark of 10-7 with a 2.80 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He’s 1-1 against them this season giving up a 13 hits and six earned runs in 13 1/3rd total innings pitched.

The Cubs currently sit lofty –200 home favorites in tonight’s baseball betting affair, with the ‘total’ set at 9 under -120. BetUS Sportsbook offers all MLB betting odds be it side, total, or run-line, so be sure to login to your account and get your wagers down before tonight’s first pitch.