There are a total of 11 games on the MLB docket which will be seen across the country on national television on Saturday.
As a part of FOX's regional coverage on the Fourth of July, the Miami Marlins (34-46 SU, -12.31 Units) will take on the Chicago Cubs (42-35 SU, +4.19 Units).
PITCHING MATCHUP
Donn Roach was originally scheduled to pitch on Friday, but Joe Maddon flipped things around just a bit and is letting Jason Hammel pitch the first game of this series instead. However, Roach isn't being sent to the bullpen, nor is he being sent back to Triple-A Iowa. Instead, he'll throw on Saturday, a start which Maddon has summed up perfectly.
"We have to be in the right spots for him," Maddon said. "He's not going to get a bunch of punch-outs. We know that."
Roach has only started two games in his big league career, the second of which came on June 27. He used a dipping sinker to keep a ton of balls on the ground against the Cardinals, but when the ball started to get up in the zone just a bit, the NL Central leaders teed off on him to the tune of eight hits and four runs.
The key for live bettors is to keep an eye on that sinker which Roach throws a ton. If the ball is being left up, look out. The Marlins don't have the most power in the world, especially with Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup, but any MLB lineup should be able to knock Roach around if that sinker isn't low.
Jarred Cosart is back from the disabled list, and he has now regained his spot in the rotation after a brief stint as a long reliever.
The righty allowed two runs in four innings against the Dodgers in a game which was out of hand last week, but that was enough to take the spot in the rotation back from Justin Nicolino, who got the loss that day.
Still, Cosart is nothing to write home about from our standpoint. He's never been able to stay healthy, and he has a real tendency to throw a high percentage of balls. His walk rate isn't high, but if he starts getting just the slightest bit wild, it might be time to fade him.
ADVANCED STATS
It hasn't quite gotten warm yet at Wrigley Field, so the wind, for the most part, hasn't been blowing out. The end result for the Cubs though, is horrendous.
Chicago is batting just .236 as a team at home this year, and of its 73 home runs, just 28 have come at home.
Granted, all of this could change with one shift of the wind off of the Great Lakes, but for the time being, one has to think that if Cosart has a successful start in him, this would be the start where it would come together.
TALKING BULLPENS
The Marlins are certainly going to need their bullpen in this game, and we have a real issue with that. The team has a .261 batting average against in the pen with runners in scoring position, and it has issued 75 walks against 139 strikeouts in said situation as well.
The Cubs don't have the greatest bullpen either, particularly at the back end of things where Maddon still feels like he is piecing things together.
If there is a rally against either of these teams in a pitching change situation where live betting is available, you can bet that there is a good chance at least one runner will score.
The MLB lines for this Saturday contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here, and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame pitting the Chicago Cubs versus the Miami Marlins will commence Saturday, July 4, 2015 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. You can watch the contest live on FOX.
