Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs – Game two of the Series

MLB Betting – Game Match-up 4/22

Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs 8:05 ET

The Cubbies impressed their fans and online betting backers in last night’s first game of the 2009 MLB betting season under Wrigley Field lights. Starting pitcher Rich Harden bounced back from his lackluster home debut against Colorado with a dominating performance that saw him surrender just three hits and two earned runs while striking out eight through six innings of the 7-2 run-line victory. After Cincinnati got on the board first with a line drive shot to the right-field seats off the bat of Jay Bruce, the Cubs countered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, which included Micah Hoffpauir’s first blast of the season and Chicago never looked back. The win improved Chicago to 8-4 on the year, 4-2 at home, and its reeled baseball bettors in $240 overall. As for Cincinnati, it dropped to 7-6 on the year, but still stand 5-3 as a visitor that’s secured $300+ in baseball profits for its betting backers. Chicago is now 7-3 the L/10 times they’ve entertained the Reds in the “Friendly Confines.”

After pulling through for tall chalk bettors last night, BetOnline oddsmakers have tagged Chicago as lofty favorites once again this evening. Left-hander Ted Lilly currently sits as a -170 chalk over Johnny Cueto and the Reds with the game ‘total’ set at 8.5 over -120. The Reds are 4-9 in Cueto’s L/13 starts as a road underdog, but Chicago is 1-5 in Lilly’s L/6 home starts against Cincinnati.

Toeing the bump for the Reds for the third time this season will be the enigmatic Johnny Cueto. He comes into tonight’s start 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA allowing 10 hits and just five earned runs through 10+ innings of work. What’s hampered the righty has been his lofty walk total having issued seven free passes to go along with 12 K’s. He was solid his last time out against Houston where he allowed just one run and two hits, but was lifted after walking six in just 4.2 innings of work. He held his own against the Cubs powerful line-up last season throwing 25 total innings and allowing just 26 hits and 13 earned runs.

Opposing him will be Cubs lefty Ted Lilly. The southpaw already has two wins on the year to go along with his solid 3.86 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. After getting blown up by the currently weak hitting Astros in his debut, he came back and almost tossed a no hitter against the Colorado Rockies in the Cubs home opener. He’ll be throwing on nine days rest and might come in a bit rusty. That doesn’t bode well for Ted considering the Reds teed off on him last season. The last time he faced them, Lilly got hooked in the 2nd inning after allowing five runs on four hits (1 HR) while walking three. He’s sure to be out for redemption in this spot, but when a team has your number, they just have your number. Lilly’s 1-5 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.097 WHIP in nine career starts against the Reds.

We had no problem backing the Cubs on the run-line with Harden squaring off against Owings last night, but we’ll by no means be laying any kind of chalk in this spot. The Reds are Lilly’s kryptonite and the value is just too good to pass up with Cueto in this spot. He’s fully capable of shutting this hit or miss Cubs offense down tonight.  The road warrior Reds even this series up tonight!

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Cincinnati +150

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)