MLB Series of the Week – Chi Town vs Chi Town

The inconsistent Chicago Cubs will play host to the lukewarm Chicago White Sox when the two Chicago-area ballclubs hook up for a Chi-Town showdown that is this week’s MLB Series of the Week here at BetOnline.

Both teams have won a pair of games – and three of their last five overall – coming into tonight’s series opening affair with the Cubs going 4-4 over its last eight games and the ChiSox going 5-3 over the same span.

The White Sox won the final two games of a three-game set at home against the Cubs in their interleague pairing from June 20-22.

Okay MLB gamblers, let me get started with the breakdown on this heated, in-city interleague rivalry.

Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
Friday, July 1, 2:20 PM ET, Wrigley Field

The Cubs will hand the ball to hard-luck right-hander Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.13 ERA) in this contest hoping to support the veteran after losing each of his last five starts despite getting at least six innings in each of his last five starts.

Jackson is 1-1 with four no-decisions in his last half-dozen starts but tossed seven shutout innings while striking out eight in what turned out to be a discouraging 9-5 loss to Washington one week ago.

The Chicago Cubs will counter with right-hander Randy Wells (1-2, 6.25 ERA) hoping the veteran can bounce back after getting bombed for six earned runs – including four in the first inning – of what turned out to be a 6-3 loss to Kansas City on Sunday.

Analysis: Wells has allowed at least three earned runs in four of his L/5 starts and his poor pitching is the main reason why I like the Chicago White Sox to win this contest despite being on the road.
 
The ChiSox are 9-3 in the last dozen meetings against their in-city rivals and 4-1 in their last five road games while the Cubs are just 1-4 in their last five interleague games and an identical 1-4 in randy Wells’ L/5 starts overall.

The Pick: I like the White Sox to record the solid Run Line road win in this contest.

Saturday, July 2, 4:10 PM ET, Wrigley Field
The Chicago White Sox will hand the ball to impressve right-hander Philip Humber (7-4, 2.89 ERA) looking for the unheralded hurler to duplicate the eye-opening string of performances he’s put on this season.

Now in his sixth big league season, Humber carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his last start en route to allowing two earned runs en route to a disheartening 2-1 loss to Washington the last time out.

Humber however, has limited the opposition to two earned runs or less in three of his last four starts and seven of his L/10 starts overall.

The Chicago Cubs will counter with veteran right-hander Matt Garza (4-6, 4.07) hoping the often-inconsistent starter can keep it together after giving up at least three earned runs in two of his last three starts and three of five overall.

Analysis: Garza took a tough loss to the ChiSox on June 21 despite allowing just two runs in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss and I’m going to urge BetOnline baseball betting fanatics to back the ChiSox to record the narrow win as Philip Humber tosses a near game while Matt Garza gets burned again by a lack of run support.

The Pick: Play the Chicago White Sox to pick up the narrow Money Line win in Game 2.

Sunday, July 3, 2:20 PM ET, Wrigley Field

Analysis: The Chicago White Sox will try to win the final of this three-game set by turning to veteran right-hander Gavin Floyd (6-7, 4.19 ERA) while the Chicago Cubs counter with right-hander Rodrigo Lopez (0-2, 5.40 ERA).

Floyd looked solid in limiting the Colorado Rockies to two earned runs in 7.0 innings while taking a no-decision in a 3-2 loss in 13 innings. Floyd has allowed at least three earned runs in four of his last five starts.

Lopez will make his third start for the Cubs this season after giving up one earned run on eight hits in 4.2 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Giants the last time out. Ironically, Lopez has tossed an identical 4.2 innings in each of two starts this season.

I like the ‘Over’ for this contest if the Total stays Under 9 runs. Both of these starting pitchers are mostly mediocre just as their respective ERA’s indicate.

The Pick: Play the Over MLB Betting buffs!

Okay baseball diamond bettors, there you have it. I like the Chicago White Sox to win two of three here while the Over plays out in the series finale.