Free MLB Predictions Preview … The Chicago Cubs will employ their newest weapon against the San Francisco Giants today when they send newly acquired right hand pitcher from the Oakland Athletics, Rich Harden to the mound for his Wrigley Field debut in a 1 p.m. ET matinee game. Harden comes to the Cubs with a 5-1 record and a 2.34 ERA. The Giants will counter with right hander Kevin Correia (1-5, 4.96 ERA).
Free MLB Predictions Betting Line…Oddsmakers at online sports betting leader SBGglobal.com have installed Harden and the Cubs as -260 money line favorites for this game. The game total is currently OFF.
The hard-throwing Harden makes his Cubs debut against a National League team he is pretty familiar with in San Francisco. Harden stymied the Giants in the Bay Bridge Series last month, tossing six shutout innings of one-hit ball and striking out nine, and he holds an 0.84 career ERA against them. He last pitched on July 6 for Oakland, meaning he gets an extra day of rest following a pair of mediocre five-inning outings by his lofty standards.
Correia emerged with a no-decision in his last outing, although it may have been the best of his four starts since he returned from the disabled list. Correia went 6 1/3 innings and was charged with four runs before the Giants proceeded to lose to the Cubs, 6-5. Correia lamented his lack of command with his changeup, which he said was responsible for two mistakes against Jim Edmonds. The first resulted in a second-inning leadoff walk that generated a run; the second was a full-count pitch that Edmonds stroked for a two-run homer.
Aramis Ramirez belted a three-homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 win over the Giants on Friday, as -160 favorites. The game's four runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (11).
Bob Howry tossed the win in relief, and Kerry Wood closed out the ninth inning for his 24th save.
Bengie Molina drove in the lone run for the Giants, who were +150 underdogs in that game. Tyler Walker gave up the home run to Ramirez and was pegged with the loss.
Free MLB Predictions Pick …Betting with Harden and the Cubs at -260 ML is the best choice in this game.
