Getting wins has been difficult for the 2011 Chicago Cubs but the club found a way on Monday getting a 1-0 victory over the division leaders, Milwaukee Brewers. The two clubs will be at it again Tuesday (8:05 PM ET) when they play the second of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.
With Gallardo and Wells scheduled as Tuesday's starters, most MLB Odds shops list the Brewers as -145 favorites on the offshore moneyline with a 8-run (over/under) total. Cubs backers will be getting +125 ML odds as home underdogs.
Gallardo's won his first six starts of 2011, a record that ended Thursday, when he allowed 10 hits and threw 96 pitches in four-plus innings of a loss to the Mets. He's 3-1 with a 3.61 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs.
Wells' last start was cut short after 2 1/3 innings because of rain. Another problem was pitch count: He threw 53 in the abbreviated outing. This will be his first game against the Brewers since Cactus League play on Feb. 28.
The Brewers had it to themselves for a day, but share the lead in the National League Central Division with the St. Louis Cardinals following Monday's loss. Milwaukee swept the Cards in three straight at Miller Park over the weekend to take sole possession of the division lead. However, as often is the case, the Brewers hit the road and couldn't maintain the streak. Breaking streaks was in fashion for the Cubs too, snapping their three game skid with Monday's win.
The Cubs needed something good to happen because the month has been a disaster. Since May 30, the club had lost 11 of 13 games prior to Monday's and are currently 11 games off the pace of the Cardinals and Brewers in the division race. The Houston Astros are in last, 13 games back.
Milwaukee came into this series as -145 MLB Odds favorites to win while Cubs backers were getting +125.
