MLB Predictions Preview … The Chicago Cubs send their ace pitcher, right hander Carlos Zambrano (10-3, 2.84 ERA) to the mound tonight with hopes of getting the Cubs back on track after losing a heartbreaker to the Houston Astros in the first game of the teams three-game weekend set at Houston. To counter Zambrano, the Astros will trot to the mound lefty Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 3.48 ERA).
MLB Predictions Betting Line …. Oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog (Bodoglife.com) currently have the Cubs listed as 119-money line favorites versus the Astros, while the game's total is sitting at 8½. Astros’ backers are getting +110 money linne odds as the home underdog.
Zambrano held the Reds to one hit over eight innings in his last start prior to the break. Big Z was limited to 100-105 pitches in that game because it was his second start after being on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. In his two starts since coming off the DL, he's given up one run on five hits over 14 innings. This was the second straight first half in which Zambrano won 10 games. Let's see if he can match that in the second half.
Rodriguez has a 3-4 record and a 4.50 ERA over eight career games vs. the Cubs. He allowed eight hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals on July 12, getting a win despite four earned runs.
Hunter Pence drove in the winning run on Friday, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 win over the Cubs. The Astros won the game as +105 underdogs, while the three runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (9.5).
Pence finished 3-for-4 at the plate for the Astros, and Carlos Lee had the other RBI in the win. Geoff Geary tossed two scoreless innings for the win.
Jim Edmonds hit a solo home run to drive in the lone run for the Cubs, who were favored at -115 in that game. Bob Howry gave up the winning run and was tagged with the loss.
MLB Game Prediction: Take Zambrano -119 ML
