Cubs vs. Marlins Prediction
Will the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins play over the betting total on Thursday when the 2018 MLB season opens nationwide?
Game Snapshot
(901) Chicago Cubs at (902) Miami Marlins
Thursday, March 29, 2018
TV: ESPN, 12:30 p.m. ET
Probable Starters: Jon Lester (L) vs. Jose Urena (R)
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers from online sports book YouWager, the Cubs are -195 money line favorites to beat the Marlins, who are +175 on the money line. The total, meanwhile, sits at 7.5 runs.
LINE MOVEMENT
Chicago opened as -175 money line favorites before the line moved to -195, while Miami went from +150 up to +175. The total moved as well, dropping from 8 down to 7.5 at the majority of online sportsbooks.
Bet Today’s Cubs vs. Marlins Game
PUBLIC BETTING INFORMATION
As of this writing, 87% of betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cubs to win on the money line. Meanwhile, 51% of the betting tickets are on the over.
OUR PREDICTION
Lester is coming off a mediocre 2017 campaign. Right out the gates he’ll see a powerless Miami lineup in a pitcher-friendly ballpark but when they do reach base today, the Marlins’ speed could give Lester fits. He’s a bottom-five pitcher when it comes to holding on runners. Meanwhile, Chicago owns one of the best offenses in baseball. Urena only had a 16% strikeout rate and an 8% swinging strike rate in 2017, so the ball should be put in play a lot when the Cubs are up. I like the over, which was 8-1 in Lester’s last nine starts in 2017.
THURSDAY MLB PREDICTION: CUBS/MARLINS OVER 7.5