Can Lackey, Cubs keep dominating Reds?
John Lackey couldn’t have asked for a much better 2015. If his first three April starts are a harbinger of what’s to come, though, this year might be even more promising.
The 37-year-old hurler will shoot for his fourth straight victory when Chicago tangles with Cincinnati tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch at the Great American Ballpark. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv prefer the visiting squad as a 1.5-run favorite. The over/under total stands at 8.5 runs.
While Lackey (3-0, 3.66 ERA) has undoubtedly benefited from the best run support in the bigs, the righty’s also doing his part to refine things after a challenging season debut. Monday’s 11-strikeout performance against the Cardinals was a major step in the right direction. Lackey limited the organization for which he won 13 decisions last summer to no runs and four hits.
Base knocks aren’t a problem, of course, for the Cubs’ attack. Anthony Rizzo homered for a third straight contest to key last night’s 8-1 trouncing of the Reds. The first baseman’s in the midst of a 4-for-13 stretch following an 8-for-49 beginning to the campaign.
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On the other side, Bryan Price needs a sterling performance from Dan Straily (0-0, 2.70) to help a woeful lineup at present. Other than shortstop Zack Cozart’s dinger, Cincy managed just four hits in the middle contest of the series. Joey Votto recorded one of them, but the four-time All-Star remains in a 1-for-20 rut.
Bottom line: Joe Maddon’s bunch captured the first five meetings by a combined score of 46-7. Then there’s the .316 average during a six-game road winning streak vs. Cincinnati. Look for Lackey to lap up another decisive triumph.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS/REDS UNDER 8.5 RUNS
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