Free MLB Picks – Cubs at Giants MLB Odds: Mathematically the Chicago Cubs still have a chance – however the odds of the Cubs winning their division are about a gazillion-to-one. The Cubs can help St. Louis to a division title by losing tonight when they send their starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, to the mound to face Brad Penny and the Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The magic number, combined Cubs losses or St. Louis wins, for the Cardinals to win their division is down to one. The Cardinals, who are idle on Thursday, will be watching to see if Chicago obliges and loses a game. If not, tonight, the clinching day will come very soon. Cubs righthander Dempster, the best thing the Cubs have had for awhile, is 10-8 on the season with a 3.72 ERA. Righthander Penny is 10-9 on the year with a 5.35 ERA.
The Giants could use a win tonight much more than the Cubs as they have some chance of winning the NL Wild Card but will need plenty of help. Currently San Francisco is looking at a 4-game deficit to Colorado in the wild card race.
Dempster did not get a decision in his last start, despite a stellar effort. He went eight innings, striking out six. It was his 10th consecutive start of six or more innings, and second consecutive outing of eight innings. Dempster beat the Giants on May 4 at Wrigley Field, giving up two runs on five hits over seven innings and striking out seven. He's now 3-1 in his last six road starts, and has given up 11 earned runs over 40 1/3 innings.
Penny's 3-3 with a 2.64 ERA lifetime against the Cubs. He has enjoyed pitching thus far at AT&T Park, where he's 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts since joining San Francisco. Penny is coming off his worst start as a Giant, yielding seven runs and five hits while walking three in only 2 2/3 innings last Saturday at Los Angeles. Penny complained that he wasn't throwing decent offspeed pitches, which hampered his performance significantly.
The Cubs were defeated 3-2 by the Brewers on Wednesday, as +125 road underdogs. The team's played UNDER the posted over/under (9.5). Jeff Samardzija homered for the Cubs, while surrendering three runs over five innings in the loss.
The Giants took out the Diamondbacks 5-2 in Wednesday night's rubber match, as -130 favorites. The game's seven runs went UNDER the night's posted over/under (9.5). Juan Uribe went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run homer and three RBIs. Jonathan Sanchez surrendered just two runs over 5 1-3 innings for the victory.
Free MLB Picks: We (Point-Spreads.com) give the edge to the Giants, who have much more to play for.
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