Cubs are Rolling – San Diego at Chicago

Game Time: 8:05 ET

The Chicago Cubs (18-14, +$97) will look to win its third game in a row and seventh in its L/10 tries when it hosts the San Diego Padres (13-20, -$505) at Wrigley Field in the second of the teams three-game sports betting set. Last night’s MLB betting affair saw Rich Harden and the Cubs overpower Jake Peavy and the Pads. The Cubs raked 11 overall hits and sent Jake to the showers early en route to the solid 6-2 home victory. RF Milton Bradley awoke from his early season slumber by smashing the go ahead homer in the bottom of the 6th inning, and Rich Harden churned out his fifth quality start in seven tries by throwing six innings of two-run ball to secure his fourth victory of the season.

With the win, the Cubs are now in the green for their MLB betting backers at home and on the season earning $97 overall on the season and $62 within the friendly confines. With St. Louis getting pounded by the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Cubs sit just 1.5-games out of 1st place in the NL Central. The loss was San Diego’s fourth in a row and the NL West members have won just four games in its L/21 games played. They currently sit in the cellar of the division along with the Arizona Diamondbacks 8.5-games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, and continue to be one of the worst MLB wagers on the road having dropped 14 of 19 overall (-$565).
Ted Lilly and the Cubs currently sit as lofty -160 home favorites at BetOnline Sportsbook over Chris Young and the Padres for tonight’s baseball betting match-up; the game ‘total’ currently sits at 9 over -110.

Chris Young is the only pitcher the Padres owns a winning record with this season. He’s 2-1 on the year with a 4.76 ERA and 1.44 WHIP allowing 38 hits and 21 earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 31/19 in just under 40 total innings of work. That said; he’s been fantastic in cavernous Petco Park and a nightmare when toeing the opponent’s rubber. As a visitor, the Padres are 1-3 in his starts and his ERA and WHIP balloon to 6.97 and 1.79 respectively. In his career against Chicago, the lengthy righty is 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA & 1.10 WHIP in five overall starts, but hasn’t seen the Cubs since 2007.

Ted Lilly’s going to be chomping at the bit to toe the Wrigley mound this evening. He’s simply been dynamite at home allowing just one earned run and holding opponents to a .151 batting average through 21 2/3rd innings of work. He put forth his best road effort of the year his last time out limiting the Houston Astros to just four hits and two earned runs through six innings of the Cubs 8-5 road victory. Lilly’s dominated San Diego in his five career starts going 4-1 with a miniscule 1.96 ERA & 0.90 WHIP.

With a number of the rosters key cogs on the DL, the Cubs need to grab as many wins as they can right now. San Diego has a few nice pieces in place, but overall, the team’s brutal. Lilly has shined in every one of his Wrigley starts this season, while Young is a completely different hurler outside of Petco. I never like laying this type of chalk, but Chicago’s the right side tonight. Young’s alternated terrible road starts all season; with his last one in LA of the gem variety, his seasonal trend forecasts a dud tonight. Lay the chalk with the Cubs confidently!

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Chicago Cubs -160
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)