MLB: Baseball rivals offers bettors options
MLB: Baseball rivals offers bettors options
It’s rare in interleague play that the baseball schedule has natural rivals competing in the middle of the week, instead of the usual weekend affairs. However, in Chicago and Texas, that’s how it falls this year, with the teams from the Windy City meeting2009-06-16
It’s rare in interleague play that the baseball schedule has natural rivals competing in the middle of the week, instead of the usual weekend affairs. However, in Chicago and Texas, that’s how it falls this year, with the teams from the Windy City meeting again on the South Side in 10 days and two clubs from the Lone Star State having already played on the weekend last month. Here is look at how each series will start between these rivals. Get more on these series’ on the GAME
MATCHUPS page.
White Sox at Cubs
Emotions run high in Chicago when these two teams compete, no matter where they are positioned in the standings. Thus far in 2009, both teams are trying to find the elixir that led them to division crowns a season ago. The White Sox (30-34, -5.6 units) has seen their offense suffer, with not enough runners on base and their aging sluggers not taking the ball over the wall as frequently. The Sox are 13th in batting average in the American League and are next to last in runs scored at 4.1 per game in the league. The Pale Hose are +145 underdogs and are 16-37 as a road pooch of less than +150.
The Cubs (30-30, -7.1 units) were expected to be controlling the NL Central, instead they have been mired in mediocrity with .500 record. Don’t blame the pitching; which is third in baseball in runs allowed at 4.1, it has been anemic offense which has been the problem. The Cubbies bats have been nearly as quiet as their city counterparts at 4.2 RPG, with a worse team batting average of .245. Since May 19, the Cubs have scored three runs or less in 16 of last 24 contests and are 13-20 (-12.0 Units) against the money line after one or more consecutive Unders this season.
The pitching matchup appears unlikely to yield many runs with John Danks (4-5, 4.81 ERA) facing Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 3.39). The lefty Danks is off his best performance in weeks, allowing two runs and striking out seven in a season-high 7 1/3 innings, though he lost 2-1 to Detroit. The White Sox are 6-2 in Danks last eight starts as road dog. Zambrano is also one off one of his best outings of the year, permitting one run and three hits in eight innings against Houston, with the bullpen losing it in the ninth. The Cubs are 32-12 with Big Z pitching at Wrigley Field against teams with losing records.
First pitch is set for just after 8 Eastern on WGN and since interleague play began, these teams are tied at 33 facing one another.
Houston at Texas
After talk of firing manager Cecil Cooper emerged in late May, the Houston players started to take responsibility and have won five consecutive series, raising their record to 29-32 (-2.5 units). The Astros have won 11 of last 16, in spite of an up and down offense, littered with veteran players, mostly past their prime. Houston has only averaged 3.7 RPG in last seven outings, yet is 6-0 in road games with an on-base percentage of .285 or worse over their last five contests this season.
Texas (35-27, +9.8 units) still maintains its lead in the AL West, with the Angels picking up ground on the Rangers who have lost four of six on this homestand. Though people are pointing to Josh Hamilton not being in the lineup for Texas, players like Ian Kinsler and Michael Young are hitting .125 or less of late, making the real reason for Rangers offensive failures placed on others not stepping up. “We’re not panicking when it comes to our offense,” said Young. “We know we’ll make adjustments. … We’ll get there. We’re confident. It’s a matter of time.” If he’s correct, Texas should improve upon 15-6 record having lost two of their last three games this season.
Wandy Rodriguez (5-5, 2.82) will oppose Kevin Millwood (6-4, 2.72) in this Texas shootout. Rodriguez record doesn’t show how effective he’s pitched and he is 3-0 against Texas. His downfall has always been on the road, with Houston 5-17 versus teams with winning records when the left-hander takes the ball. Conversely, Millwood and the Rangers are 19-7 at home against clubs with losing records.
Sportsbook.com has Texas as -133 money line favorites with total of Ov9 and is off a sweep of the Astros in Houston. The Rangers are 10-1 UNDER at home when the total is 8.5 to 10 this season and 16-6 UNDER against left-handed starters.
The matchup in the great state of Texas commences at 8:05 Eastern.