MLB Odds – Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros

Carlos Zambrano only has one win this season but with the Chicago Cubs, playing the Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park, Zambrano and the Cubs should chalk up another victory.

Zambrano has been brilliant against the Astros, in his last 15 games, he has limited Houston to one or zero runs 11 times. He has an ERA of 2.54 in 29 career games against the Astros.

The MLB odds makers have the Cubs and Zambrano as -130 favorites while the comeback on the Astros is +110. The game total is 8 runs.

Title MLB Odds

Chicago Cubs -1½ +125 -130 Carlos Zambrano – R

Houston Astros +1½ -145 +110 Felipe Paulino – R

Game Total 8

• Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston TX
• Game Time: 8:05pm
• TV: WGN, FSH

Carlos Zambrano is making his first start in six weeks after pitching from the Cubs bullpen. Lou Piniella made the decision after Big Z began the season with four shaky starts.

Zambrano was 1-2 with a huge 7.45 ERA. The move didn’t improve the Cubs record but everyone involve is hoping the demotion will have lit a fire under Zambrano who is clearly Chicago’s best pitcher when he’s motivated.

On the mound for the Astros is Felipe Paulino, Paulino is still looking for his first win of the season and hold a record of 0-7 with a 4.40 ERA. It’s not that Paulino is pitching badly but his 0-7 record is a reflection of the league worst 1.97 run-support average the Astros are giving him.

The Astros are have given him one or zero runs in seven of his last eight starts. The only pitcher who could overcome that type of support is Ubaldo Jimenez but Paulino is not Jimenez.

The Cubs bats haven’t been lively lately either with 7 of their past 10 games falling under the total but a point to remember is that of those three games that went over the Cubbies lost.

Check out a few other MLB betting trends for this game

Chicago Cubs

• Cubs are 4-0 in Zambranos last 4 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150.
• Cubs are 8-1 in Zambranos last 9 starts as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
• Cubs are 4-1 in Zambranos last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Cubs are 4-1 in Zambranos last 5 Friday starts.

Houston Astros

• Astros are 2-9 in their last 11 Friday games.
• Astros are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150.
• Astros are 1-6 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

Tonight’s game should be a low scoring game with Carlos Zambrano’s dominance over Houston and the Paulino being much better than his record would indicate.

The Cubs should be able to win this game against the worst team in the National League, as Big Z will be out to prove he is the Cubs best pitcher.

We hit the parlay last week and I’m making another Parlay prediction in this game, take the Cubs on the Moneyline and Under 8 runs on the total.