The Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at LandShark Stadium.
The Cubs will give the ball to starter Rich Harden in this one. Righthander Harden is 7-6 this season with a 4.65 ERA.
Meanwhile, it’ll be Chris Volstad who starts for the Marlins. Righthander Volstad is 8-9 with a 4.44 ERA so far this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 115-moneyline favorites versus the Marlins, while the game’s total is sitting at 8½.
Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theriot drove in four runs apiece in helping the Cubs tear apart the Astros 12-3 on Thursday, as -190 favorites. That game’s 15 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (10). Kevin Hart allowed six hits and three runs over six innings to earn his third win.
Jorge Cantu had two hits and drove in one run as the Marlins fell 6-3 to the Braves in 10 innings Thursday. The Braves were 155 favorites, and the nine runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8). Luis Ayala gave up three runs in relief and was tagged with the loss.
One of my top sports picks for Friday is the Chicago Cubs.
Current streak:
Chicago has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Chicago: 54-46 SU
Florida: 53-49 SU
The Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Rangers Ballpark.
Armando Galarraga will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers on this day. Righthander Galarraga is 5-8 this season with a 4.82 ERA.
It’ll be Tommy Hunter toeing the rubber for the Rangers in this contest. Righthander Hunter is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA so far this season.
Odds makers currently have the Rangers listed as 160-moneyline favorites versus the Tigers, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.
The Tigers lost to the White Sox 5-1 as a -130 favorite on Sunday. The six runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9.5). Ryan Raburn drove in Detroit’s only run and Rick Porcello surrendered five runs on five hits in 5 1-3 innings.
The Rangers defeated Kansas City 7-2 as a -150 favorite on Sunday. The nine runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9.5). Michael Young was 3-4 with a pair of RBI, while Andruw Jones hit a solo home run in the win.
One of my top sports picks for Monday is the Texas Rangers.
Team records:
Detroit: 52-45 SU
Texas: 54-42 SU
The Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at Wrigley Field.
Ace Aaron Harang will be the starting pitcher for the Reds on this day. Righthander Harang is 5-10 this season with a 4.17 ERA.
Starting this game for the Cubs will be Randy Wells. The righthander has a 3.00 ERA to go along with a 5-4 record this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 155-moneyline favorites versus the Reds, while the game’s total is sitting at 10.
The Reds were defeated 6-2 by the Dodgers last time out, as +180 underdogs. That game’s eight runs went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (8). Joey Votto went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in a run for the Reds. Bronson Arroyo gave up five run over 5 1-3 innings in the loss.
The Cubs exploded for 13 hits in a 10-5 win over the Phillies on Wednesday, as -115 favorites. That game’s 15 runs sailed OVER the day’s posted over/under (9.5). Aramis Ramirez went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs batted in. Carlos Zambrano tossed 6 2-3 innings for the win, and Kevin Gregg sealed the victory with his 19th save.
One of my top sports picks for Friday is Cincinnati/Chicago under 10.5 runs.
Current streak:
Cincinnati has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Cincinnati: 44-50 SU
Chicago: 48-45 SU
The Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays will meet on the field at Rogers Centre on Sunday in a battle of division rivals. The Red Sox will pin their hopes on the pitching of lefthander Jon Lester in this game. Lester has a 8-6 record and a 3.87 ERA this season.
The Blue Jays will counter Lester with ace Roy Halladay. Righthander Halladay has a 2.85 ERA to go along with a 10-3 record this season.
Odds makers currently have the Blue Jays listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Red Sox, while the game’s total is sitting at 7½.
Adam Lind smacked a two-run homer to help the Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox 6-2 on Saturday, as +105 underdogs. That game’s eight runs went UNDER the posted over/under (9). Jose Bautista also drove in a pair of runs for the Blue Jays. Mark Rzepczynski pitched six innings and earned his first career victory.
Jed Lowrie hit a solo home run for the Red Sox, who were favored at -115. Brad Penny gave up all six runs in five innings of work in his fourth loss.
One of my top sports picks is for the Boston/Toronto game to go over 7.5 runs.
Team records:
Boston: 55-35 SU
Toronto: 45-47 SU
The Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Nationals Park.
Ace Carlos Zambrano will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs on this day. Righthander Zambrano is 5-4 this season with a 3.53 ERA.
It’ll be Craig Stammen toeing the rubber for the Nationals in this contest. Righthander Stammen is 2-4 with a 4.45 ERA so far this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 140-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game’s total is sitting at 8½.
Rich Harden combined on a four-hit performance as the Cubs defeated the Nationals 6-2 in Thursday’s series opener. The Cubs won the game as -130 favorites, while the eight runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (9). Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run for the Cubs. Harden evened his record to 6-6 with the win.
Ryan Zimmerman went deep for the Nationals, who were +110 underdogs. John Lannan allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings in the loss.
One my top sports picks for Friday is the Chicago Cubs.
Current streak:
Washington has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Chicago: 44-43 SU
Washington: 26-62 SU
I will make the American League one of my top sports picks for this game, even though they are playing at a National League park.
CC Sabathia of NY against Lackey of LA. One of my sports picks is for NY Yankees to win.
A winning streak will be on the line for the Houston Astros on Friday when they battle the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park.
The Nationals will give the ball to ace starter Scott Olsen in this one. Lefthander Olsen is 2-4 this season with a 6.03 ERA.
Starting this game for the Astros will be ace Roy Oswalt. The righthander has a 3.81 ERA to go along with a 5-4 record this season.
Odds makers currently have the Astros listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game’s total is sitting at 8½.
Lance Berkman belted a three-run homer and scored three times in leading the Astros to a 9-4 victory over the Nationals on Thursday. The Astros won that game as -120 favorites, and the 13 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9). Jeff Keppinger had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Astros. Alberto Arias pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win in relief.
Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI for the Nationals, who were +100 underdogs. John Lannan gave up 11 hits and five runs over five innings in the loss.
One of my top sports picks is the Houston Astros to win.
Current streak:
Washington has lost 4 straight games.
Houston has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Washington: 25-59 SU
Houston: 42-43 SU
The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Wrigley Field.
The Braves will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Jair Jurrjens in this game. Jurrjens has a 6-6 record and a 2.73 ERA this season.
Jurrjens’s opponent in this one will be Randy Wells. The Cubs righthander has a 2.43 ERA to go along with a 3-3 record this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the Braves, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Braves lost to Washington 5-3 as a -140 favorite on Sunday. The eight runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9.5). Nate McLouth hit a two-run home run for Atlanta and Martin Prado was 4-4 in the loss.
The Cubs defeated Milwaukee 8-2 as a -150 favorite on Sunday. The 10 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (9.5). Derrek Lee homered and drove in three runs for Chicago and Jake Fox was 2-4 with a home run and two RBI in the win.
One of my top sports picks for Monday is the Chicago Cubs.
Current streak:
Atlanta has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Atlanta: 39-42 SU
Chicago: 40-39 SU
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Wrigley Field.
The Brewers will give the ball to starter Braden Looper in this one. Righthander Looper is 6-4 this season with a 4.90 ERA.
Meanwhile, it’ll be Rich Harden who starts for the Cubs. Righthander Harden is 5-4 with a 4.70 ERA so far this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 165-moneyline favorites versus the Brewers, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
Mark DiFelice gave up the winning run off a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning, as the Cubs defeated the Brewers 2-1 on Friday. The Cubs won the game as -175 favorites, while the team’s played UNDER the posted over/under (9).
Carlos Zambrano singled in the other run for the Cubs. Kevin Gregg tossed two scoreless innings to earn the victory.
Corey Hart drove in the lone run for the Brewers, who were +1255 underdogs. DiFelice dropped his first game in relief this season.
One of my sports picks for the 4th is the Chicago Cubs.
Current streak:
Milwaukee has lost 3 straight games.
Chicago has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Milwaukee: 42-38 SU
Chicago: 39-38 SU