Pick the Fish – Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs
Florida Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs 8:05 ET
Thursday night provides another opportunity for MLB betting aficionados to boost their bankrolls, and BetUS will be there to cover all of the action! As a part of a packed slate of games, the Florida Marlins (13-8, +$546) will invade the Windy City to do battle with the Chicago Cubs (10-10-, -$293) in the first of a four-game set at Wrigley Field. Since losing seven straight games, the Marlins have fired back with a vengeance, beating the Mets on Tuesday and Wednesday to return to their winning ways. The Cubs, on the other hand, are slumping, as they have dropped six of their L/8, and closed out their most recent six game road trip at just 2-4.
The oddsmakers are expecting a tight showdown tonight, as the Cubs are slender -120 favorites, while the ‘total’ comes in at 9.5 under –115.
Manager Freddie Gonzalez will send one of his many young arms to the mound on Thursday night. RHP Chris Volstad is off to a fantastic start in his second year in the big leagues, as he is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Marlins bettors are a cool 3-1 in his four starts (+$216). They’re now 11-7 and +$789 in his brief career. The righty only allowed a pair of earned runs in seven frames against the Phillies in his last start on April 25th, but thanks to some shoddy work by the back end of the bullpen, he came up with a tough luck no decision and Florida lost 6-4. He has had some control issues this season, as he has averaged 3.0 walks per start, but an 8.49 K/9 will more than make up for those issues. This will be the right-hander’s third career start against the Cubbies. He’s 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in his two previous outings (12.0 innings pitched) against the Northsiders.
For the third straight season, the Cubs are using LHP Sean Marshall in a role of spot starter/long relief. He’s made two starts and two relief appearances so far this season, and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He has been acceptable in his L/2 appearances, both starts, as he has given up three runs in an average of just over five frames per start. Those numbers aren’t mind-boggling, but have at least kept the Cubbies in games. His bullpen has conceded nine runs in those outings though, and it should come as no surprise that Chicago bettors are 0-2 in each of his starts. Marshall’s career against the Fish has been a rough one, as he is 1-3 with a 4.38 ERA in 24.2 career innings pitched.
The choice here is fairly obvious. Volstad is leaps and bounds better than Marshall. Though the Cubs probably have a better batting lineup and bullpen than the Marlins possess, there’s simply too much value with Volstad tagged the underdog in this spot; especially since he’s matched up against a club playing just .500 baseball thus far.
Rose’s Recommendation: 3* Florida Marlins +100
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)
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