Dave Malinsky
Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Jun 7, 2008 3:55PM
SPORT: Major League Baseball Picks
PICK: 4* under 7.5
REASON FOR PICK: 4* CHICAGO/LOS ANGELES Under
We have the right timing to get behind both starters here, and two outstanding bullpens. So in a game in which we could see either side held to two runs or less by the quality of pitching that they are up against, we have an easy Under on the way.
Carlos Zambrano will bring a chip on his shoulder here, after a sub-par outing at San Diego in which he needed 95 pitches to go five innings, his highest PPI (Pitches Per Inning) count of the season. We can count on him to regain his groove against a lineup that he dominated in Wrigley two starts back (one run over eight innings), and he has worked to a 2.57 tune in seven career starts against the Dodgers. The Los Angeles offense continues to be on a long slide since losing Rafael Furcal, and it does not get any better here against either Zambrano, or a Chicago bullpen that benefits from Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood both getting Friday night off.
The Cubs will need all of that pitching to have a chance to win here, because runs will not come easily against Derek Lowe. The pitching forms will only show a 3-5/4.17, but Lowe had to fight through minor injury issues that kept him from finding rhythm. He has it back now, and in style. He has worked to a 1.23 over his last three starts, allowing only 14 hits in 22 innings, and included in that span were seven shutout innings at Wrigley. He did not win that night because of a lack of support, and may not win here for the same reasons. But with his ability to handle right-handers (they are hitting 56 points lower than left-handers against him this season, and 43 points over the last four campaigns), and the lack of Cub production from the other side of the batters box, we will call for him to induce a lot of easy ground balls this afternoon, before turning it over to a bullpen that has everyone rested off of Hiroki Kuroda?s masterpiece on Friday.
Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Jun 7, 2008 3:55PM
SPORT: Major League Baseball Picks
PICK: 4* under 7.5
REASON FOR PICK: 4* CHICAGO/LOS ANGELES Under
We have the right timing to get behind both starters here, and two outstanding bullpens. So in a game in which we could see either side held to two runs or less by the quality of pitching that they are up against, we have an easy Under on the way.
Carlos Zambrano will bring a chip on his shoulder here, after a sub-par outing at San Diego in which he needed 95 pitches to go five innings, his highest PPI (Pitches Per Inning) count of the season. We can count on him to regain his groove against a lineup that he dominated in Wrigley two starts back (one run over eight innings), and he has worked to a 2.57 tune in seven career starts against the Dodgers. The Los Angeles offense continues to be on a long slide since losing Rafael Furcal, and it does not get any better here against either Zambrano, or a Chicago bullpen that benefits from Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood both getting Friday night off.
The Cubs will need all of that pitching to have a chance to win here, because runs will not come easily against Derek Lowe. The pitching forms will only show a 3-5/4.17, but Lowe had to fight through minor injury issues that kept him from finding rhythm. He has it back now, and in style. He has worked to a 1.23 over his last three starts, allowing only 14 hits in 22 innings, and included in that span were seven shutout innings at Wrigley. He did not win that night because of a lack of support, and may not win here for the same reasons. But with his ability to handle right-handers (they are hitting 56 points lower than left-handers against him this season, and 43 points over the last four campaigns), and the lack of Cub production from the other side of the batters box, we will call for him to induce a lot of easy ground balls this afternoon, before turning it over to a bullpen that has everyone rested off of Hiroki Kuroda?s masterpiece on Friday.
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