MLB Predictions – Cubs Pull Shocker and Snap White Sox Winning Streak

The second round of the Crosstown Classic takes our MLB predictions to US Cellular Field where the White Sox will look to at the very least assure itself of a tie to bring home the inaugural “BP Crosstown Cup” – talk about bad timing!

Regardless, the Cubs enter this series after securing a pair of finale victories at both Seattle and Anaheim to move manager Lou Piniella’s squad to a dismal 14-22 (-$927) as a visitor this season. The Cubs have been unwatchable throughout the month of June tallying a 7-12 (-$740) mark while dropping seven of their L/8 overall series.

If you were to identify the Chicago Cubs as Jerry Seinfeld, the White Sox would check in as “Bizarro Jerry” as things couldn’t be any different on the Southside right now. Manager Ozzie Guillen has currently got the Palehose playing some phenomenal baseball with the team just sweeping the Atlanta Braves out of “The Cell” to register their ninth straight win and 13th in their L/14 tries; the lone defeat coming at the hands of Ted Lilly who almost no-hit them at Wrigley 12-days ago.

Chicago Cubs (32-40, -$1722) vs. Chicago White Sox (37-34, +$72)

Game Date/Time: Friday, June 25th, 4:05 ET

Game Location: US Cellular Field, Chicago, IL

TV/Radio Broadcast: FOX – Comcast (Chicago), WGN, XM

MLB Odds

Chicago Cubs +1.5 -160 +120

(Carlos Zambrano – R)

Chicago White Sox -1.5 +140 -140

(Jake Peavy – R)

Total 8.5 O -105 8.5 U -115

Making his fifth start since returning to the starting rotation will be Carlos Zambrano who will look to improve upon his stellar 10-1 record against the L/11 +.500 opponents he’s faced. He’s coming off his best outing since getting removed from the bullpen allowing a single ER through seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels to register his first MLB betting win at Wrigley Field since July of 2009.

The Cubs have won two of his L/3 starts and he carries a 5-3 record with a 4.42 ERA & 1.31 WHIP entering the 12 th start of his career against the White Sox.

Opposing the righty will be the White Sox Jake Peavy whose tallied victories in three of his L/4 starts with one of them coming against the Cubs. He’s allowed just 15 hits and four ER’s over the course of his L/23 innings pitched, but the offenses all ranked in the bottom third of the league during that stretch.

The Southsiders are only 2-4 the six times he’s led them into battle at home this season, and opponents are batting .247 against him on the year. In nine career starts vs. the Cubs, Peavy’s 6-3 with a solid 2.72 ERA & 1.26 WHIP.

MLB Insider Tip : While the Cubs have been an absolute train wreck for MLB bettors this season (-$1722), they’ve held their own against +.500 ball clubs cashing in 10 of 18 overall times (+$210). They also enter this set vengeful after the Chicago White Sox made it almost darn near impossible to beat them in their own house.

While the White Sox are scorching hot, I feel they’re being asked to lay an unreasonable amount of chalk in this spot. Throughout their current nine-game winning streak, they were never asked to lay this type of price. Why ask them to now against their most hated rival? Sucker line here folks!

My MLB predictions for the opener have the Cubs putting up a big fight to bust their rivals winning streak regardless of how putrid a form they enter the series in.

My MLB Prediction: Chicago Cubs (Zambrano)