Baseball Predictions Preview: The Chicago Cubs will be licking their wounds as they head west to San Francisco after getting swept three games in Inter League play by the Chicago White Sox over the last weekend. Having lost six straight road games, the Cubs look to ace left hander Ted Lilly (8-5, 4.74 ERA) to get the team back on the winning track. Fortunatly for the Cubs, they head into San Francisco, owners of the worst home record in MLB. The Giants will send veteran lefty Barry Zito (3-11, 5.91 ERA) to the mound in this game.
Baseball Predictions Betting Line: Oddsmakers at online betting leader Sportsbook.com currently have the Cubs listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Giants, while the game's total is sitting at 8½. Giants backers are getting +125 ML odds.
Ted Lilly is coming off a win over the Orioles in which he gave up four runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. All the runs came on a pair of two-run homers by Jay Payton. Lilly is still struggling to keep the ball in the park — and when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley, it doesn't help. AT&T Park should be a better fit. Lilly is 2-1 with a 6.08 ERA lifetime against the Giants.
After posting a 1-3 record in his first four June starts, Zito flashed his 2002 AL Cy Young form on Wednesday at Cleveland, surrendering one run and four hits in a season-high 6 2/3 innings as the Giants prevailed, 4-1. Zito's employing a slightly lower arm slot and using a two-seam fastball to his advantage. Zito was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts against Chicago last year. But he has struggled at AT&T Park, where he's 0-7 with a 7.34 ERA.
The Cubs lost to the White Sox 5-1 as a +130 underdog on Sunday. The six runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9).
Roger Cedeno drove in the Cubs' lone run, while Sean Marshall was tagged for three runs on five hits over seven innings to take the loss.
The Giants defeated Oakland 11-1 as a +125 underdog on Sunday. The 12 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (7.5).
Rich Aurilia was 3-5 with a home run and five RBI for San Francisco, while Jonathan Sanchez earned the win after allowing one run on four hits over seven innings.
Baseball Predictions Pick: Cubs -135 ML
