Today we take a look at the Chicago Cubs and LA Dodgers. LA has opened up as a big -152 home favorite with the total set at 7. Will the Dodgers be able to live up to their billing and cover the large odds or will the Cubbies get the best of them?
Jeff Samardjzia vs
Chad Billingsly
Since coming off the DL, Chad Billingsly has been on great
run. In his last 3 starts he owns a 2.33 ERA with an outstanding 0.73 WHIP.
Chad has struck out 11 batters over that time frame and he has compiled 106 Ks
on the year. In his career Chad has owned the Cubbies with an ERA of 3.47.
Alfonso Soriano is hitting below .190 against him, while Starlin Castro is at
.111 and Anthony Rizzo at just .200. The rest of the Cubs offense will be
seeing Billingsley for the first time, so the edge certainly goes to the
starting pitcher in this battle.
Dodgers slumping and
not swinging the bats
LA brought in Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino to try to
spark their offense, but little has changed, as they are still stuck in the
mud. LA has lost 3 straight home games where
they have put up just 4 runs, and they were shut out in their most recent game.
Going back to their last 10 games they have lost 6 of them. In their last 10
games against right handed pitching the Dodgers are hitting just .244 as team
and averaging just 3.57 runs per nine innings. They will have their work cut
out for them today going against Samardzjia who has a hot hand at the moment.
Jeff Samardzjia on a
run
It looks as if Jeff is getting stronger as the year goes on.
In his last 19 innings pitched, he has only given up 10 hits with a 1.42 ERA.
He is simply dominating other teams, and the Cubs have gone 3-0 in those
starts. Over the last 3 games Jeff has racked up 21 strike outs, while giving
up just 3 runs combined. With the Dodgers slumping, he should certainly
continue this run and be able to mow through this line up.
The Cubs hold some great value here as a +140 MLB odds dog. They are winners of 6
of their last 10 while the Dodgers have lost 6 of their last 10 but the x
factor here is Chad Billingsly. The Cubs hitters really struggle against him
and will half of their line up getting their first look at him, he should hold
this line to around 2-3 runs max.
We will make a play on the UNDER 7 as both pitchers are in a
groove right now, feeling it.
MLB Pick: Take the UNDER