Cubs Stagger A Bit
At this point last week, the Chicago Cubs appeared to be cruising toward the playoffs. Recent struggles at home, an injury to their ace have proved more than enough to make the team a little nervous about the stretch run.
The Cubs hope to take advantage of their last series against a team with a losing record as they try to snap their longest losing streak of the year by visiting the Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game set Friday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Chicago -150 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 82% of bets for this game have been placed on Chicago -150 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Last Friday, Chicago (85-55) used a tiebreaking seventh-inning home run from Alfonso Soriano to beat Philadelphia 3-2 and extend its win streak to seven games. That victory put the Cubs 6 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The Brewers have cut into that lead, however, as the Cubs have been outscored 26-12 while losing a season-high five straight games – all at Wrigley Field, where they lead the NL with 51 home wins. The Cubs haven’t lost six straight since May 27-June 2, 2007.
Chicago was held to six hits in a 4-0 loss to Houston on Wednesday night. The Cubs, who have been shut out eight times all season, were held scoreless twice in the series – the first time they were swept at home.
"Basically they outplayed us," manager Lou Piniella said. "They outpitched us, outhit us. They just beat us. No excuses. … You’re going to have adversity along the way and we’re having it right now. We’ll see how we respond."
Pitcher Ryan Dempster is optimistic the team will snap out of its recent funk.
"Obviously you lose five in a row and don’t play as well as you are capable, it’s frustrating for everybody," he said. "There are better times ahead. I promise that."
Perhaps the most concerning issue for the team is Carlos Zambrano’s arm injury. An MRI confirmed Thursday that the right-hander has right rotator cuff tendinitis and inflammation in his throwing shoulder. He received a shot of anti-inflammatory medication and hopes to return to the rotation next week.
The Cubs would love a speedy return from Zambrano with 16 of their final 22 games on the road and 19 of 22 against teams with winning records. That includes three more against the surging Astros, six against St. Louis, six against Milwaukee and four against the NL East-leading New York Mets.
Before that rough stretch, though, the Cubs hope to take advantage of the Reds (62-78), who traded away sluggers Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. at the trade deadline and are 16-28 since the All-Star break.
Cincinnati, however, has averaged 7.0 runs while winning four of its last six. Joey Votto hit a solo home run and drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning as the Reds rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat Pittsburgh 8-6 on Thursday.
"Generally, we’re just finishing off strong, trying to win as many as we can and hope it transfers to next year," Votto said.
The Reds hope to continue their recent offensive surge Friday against a Cubs pitcher that hasn’t had much success against them. Ted Lilly (13-8, 4.23 ERA) is 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA in eight career starts against Cincinnati – all since the left-hander signed with Chicago before the 2007 season.
Lilly was on the mound for the first loss of the Cubs’ current skid Saturday. He gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings against Philadelphia in a 5-2 defeat.
He’ll match up against Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyo (13-10, 4.97), who’s won three straight starts with a 1.57 ERA in that stretch. The right-hander gave up two runs in seven innings of a 9-3 victory over San Francisco on Sunday.
Arroyo is 6-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 17 career games – 15 starts – against the Cubs. He’s won each of his first two starts against them in 2008.
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