There's nothing more American on the Fourth of July than Major League Baseball; so what better place to start the holiday than on the diamond at Nationals' Park in our Nations Capitol. Here the Chicago Cubs leave the friendly confines of Wrigley Field to play the Washington Nationals in a long four-game series beginning with today's opener (1:05 pm ET). Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (5-7, 2.63 ERA) gets the start for the Nats while the Cubs counter with right-hander Casey Coleman (2-4, 7.78 ERA).
With Zimmermann and Coleman scheduled to start; the offshore MLB Odds board at BetUS.pa lists the Nationals as -190 money line favorites with a posted (over/under) total of 8.0. Cubs’ run-line bettors at + 1 1/2 will pay -140 while the Nats at -1 1/2 are getting +120.
Casey Coleman will be starting for Chicago in place of regular starter Ryan Dempster who's been scratched because of tightness in his back. Coleman is 2-1 with a 3.90 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Iowa. In his last start, h e gave up three runs over seven innings.
Zimmermann capped off a phenomenal June by recording his club-record 11th straight quality start in Anaheim, but it was wasted by the Nationals' lack of offense. Washington has given him a total of 12 runs in his last seven outings.
The Cubs avoided getting swept at home to the White Sox by winning 3-1 Sunday afternoon to salvage one game of their three game inter-league set. They won as +120 underdogs while the four runs to cross the plate made winners of UNDER (8) bettors.
Washington lost badly (10-2) to the Pirates at Nationals' Park on Sunday disappointing their backers as -150 favorites. The 12 runs to score easily took the posted total OVER 8.5.
The Nationals are coming off at -200 MLB Odds favorites to win the series with a posted betting total (over/under) for the series at 28. Cubs backers will be getting +160 odds as series underdogs.
