The surging Chicago Cubs tonight take on the slumping Montreal Expos in the first of a three-game set in Puerto Rico.
The Cubs have tied a season-high with five straight wins to improve to 76-67 and a share of first place in the NL Central. The Astros are alongside the Cubs atop the NL Central and have the Cardinals breathing down their necks just 1 1/2 games back.
The Expos have dropped eight of their last nine to fall back to an even 72-72. They have been the victims of a ridiculous schedule and a loss tonight would leave Montreal under .500 for the first time this season.
The Cubs go with Carlos Zambrano tonight and he is 6-1 with a miniscule 1.46 ERA in his last nine starts. Overall this season he boasts a 12-9 record and his 2.87 ERA ranks 7th in the National League. San Juan is unlikely to hold any fears for Zambrano as he is 4-0 in his last five road starts.
Expos starter Zach Day (7-6, 3.98 ERA) has struggled recently going 0-2 in his last three starts and allowing 13 earned runs in just 16 1/3 innings. His ERA has climbed more than one full run through his last ten starts and that spells trouble against a Cubs offence that has scored 8, 7, 4, 8 and 9 runs in their last five games.
The Cubs have outscored their opponents by a total of 14 runs in their last five games while the Expos are basically the mirror image having been outscored by 15 runs their last five games. Chicago are 12-6, +3.9 units this season in tonight's role as a road favorite of -125 to -150.
Hot team + hot pitcher versus cold team + cold pitcher.....take the Cubs with confidence!
Recommended Play: Cubs -135
Good luck
Mike Thomas
Champion Plays
The Cubs have tied a season-high with five straight wins to improve to 76-67 and a share of first place in the NL Central. The Astros are alongside the Cubs atop the NL Central and have the Cardinals breathing down their necks just 1 1/2 games back.
The Expos have dropped eight of their last nine to fall back to an even 72-72. They have been the victims of a ridiculous schedule and a loss tonight would leave Montreal under .500 for the first time this season.
The Cubs go with Carlos Zambrano tonight and he is 6-1 with a miniscule 1.46 ERA in his last nine starts. Overall this season he boasts a 12-9 record and his 2.87 ERA ranks 7th in the National League. San Juan is unlikely to hold any fears for Zambrano as he is 4-0 in his last five road starts.
Expos starter Zach Day (7-6, 3.98 ERA) has struggled recently going 0-2 in his last three starts and allowing 13 earned runs in just 16 1/3 innings. His ERA has climbed more than one full run through his last ten starts and that spells trouble against a Cubs offence that has scored 8, 7, 4, 8 and 9 runs in their last five games.
The Cubs have outscored their opponents by a total of 14 runs in their last five games while the Expos are basically the mirror image having been outscored by 15 runs their last five games. Chicago are 12-6, +3.9 units this season in tonight's role as a road favorite of -125 to -150.
Hot team + hot pitcher versus cold team + cold pitcher.....take the Cubs with confidence!
Recommended Play: Cubs -135
Good luck
Mike Thomas
Champion Plays
