Monster Matchup – Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit Tigers

Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit Tigers 7:05 ET

The Chicago Cubs (34-32 -$597) sent a skeleton crew down to Atlanta for its make-up sports betting affair with the Braves last night, and had its four-game winning streak snapped after getting shutout by a 2-0 final count. Manager Jim Leyland’s Detroit Tigers (38-31, +$505) got to rest up on their off day, and come into tonight’s Interleague betting affair on a four-game winning streak of their own after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers right out of Comerica Park over the weekend. The Tigers currently rank out as the 5th best MLB wager of 2009 (+$505) with most of that money earned coming at home where they’ve won 20 of their 31 games (+$618). As for Chicago, it’s been a losing proposition for baseball bettors in 2009 (-$597), and it’s been woeful away from the friendly confines of Wrigley Field where they’ve won just 13 of its 32 overall road games (-$819). The Tigers currently sit four-games ahead of the Minnesota Twins for the top spot in the AL Central Division, while the Cubs trail the NL Central Division leading St. Louis Cardinals by 2.5-games. These clubs last met back in 2006 when the Tigers went into Wrigleyville and took three from the home team; Detroit leads the all time Interleague series 6-3 dating back to their first series meeting back in 2000.

BetOnline oddsmakers installed Edwin Jackson and the 1st place Tigers -135 home favorites for the first of this three-game MLB betting set; the game ‘total’ currently sits at 8.5 under -115.

Carlos Zambrano tossed his fourth straight quality start his last time out against the Chicago White Sox. He threw seven innings of three-run ball allowing six hits (1 HR) while striking out three and walking just as many. “Big Z” is 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts since returning from the DL. Surprisingly, he’s been at his best away from Wrigley Field where he sports a 3-1 mark with a 2.58 ERA allowing 28 hits and just 11 ER’s in 38.1 total innings of work. The Cubs are 4-2 in his six road outings, and this will be the first time he’s ever stared back at a Detroit line-up.

Edwin Jackson has been a godsend for the Tigers rotation in ’09. Coming off a 14 win season for the Tampa Bay Rays a year ago, Jackson has flourished donning the Tigers uniform as he stands 6-4 with miniscule 2.39 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 overall starts. What a 1-2 punch with Mr. Verlander! He’s 3-1 carrying a 3.00 ERA allowing 33 hits and just 14 ER’s with a K/BB ratio of 32/12 in 42 total innings of work at Comerica. He pitched well enough to win his last outing at St. Louis, but his offense let him down once again. Overall this season, the Tigers attack has averaged scoring just 3.79 runs in his 14 overall starts.

What a match-up of power righties we have in store for us tonight! Both Zambrano and Jackson have been dealing of late. With the ‘under’ 12-18-2 in Chicago’s 32 road games and it going 13-16-2 in Tigers home games this year, expect another pitcher’s duel tonight! The ‘under’s also cashed in four of Zambrano’s six starts as a visitor, and it’s a $$$-making 9-3-2 in Jackson’s 14 overall starts. Pitching dominates Game 1 of this three-game online baseball betting set!!!

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Under 8’ -115 (Zambrano/Jackson)

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)