All-Star rookie Dontrelle Willis goes for his ninth consecutive victory today as the Florida Marlins complete a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs.
Willis has won eight straight decisions, yielding just eight earned runs in 68 1/3 innings. Overall this season he is 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA and has opposed Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs once before. The D-Train struck out seven and allowed just four hits in 5 2/3 innings at Wrigley Field on July 8 but didn't figure in the decision. Willis has given up just two earned runs in 36 innings at home since allowing three runs in his debut on May 9.
The Marlins are 50-47 (.515) overall to be third in the NL East.
Meantime the Cubs are third in the NL Central at an even 48-48. They have scored a total of just three runs in their last three games and this lack of offense must be a major concern against Willis today...especially when you consider the Marlins have allowed just nine runs total in their last nine home games.
Zambrano is 6-8 with a 3.58 ERA and gave up a season-high seven runs on eight hits in his last outing. The Cubs are just 7-12 (.368) when he starts this season while the Marlins are 11-2 (.846) when Willis takes the mound.
We'll go with the rookie sensation to have another strong outing and with his Marlins providing offensive support will lay the -1.5 on the runs-line.
Recommended Play: Marlins -1.5 +120
Good luck
Mike
Willis has won eight straight decisions, yielding just eight earned runs in 68 1/3 innings. Overall this season he is 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA and has opposed Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs once before. The D-Train struck out seven and allowed just four hits in 5 2/3 innings at Wrigley Field on July 8 but didn't figure in the decision. Willis has given up just two earned runs in 36 innings at home since allowing three runs in his debut on May 9.
The Marlins are 50-47 (.515) overall to be third in the NL East.
Meantime the Cubs are third in the NL Central at an even 48-48. They have scored a total of just three runs in their last three games and this lack of offense must be a major concern against Willis today...especially when you consider the Marlins have allowed just nine runs total in their last nine home games.
Zambrano is 6-8 with a 3.58 ERA and gave up a season-high seven runs on eight hits in his last outing. The Cubs are just 7-12 (.368) when he starts this season while the Marlins are 11-2 (.846) when Willis takes the mound.
We'll go with the rookie sensation to have another strong outing and with his Marlins providing offensive support will lay the -1.5 on the runs-line.
Recommended Play: Marlins -1.5 +120
Good luck
Mike
