The Giants will be happy to see the calendar flip to September after a rough August, but the Cubs will look to keep the good times rolling. Chicago seems to be in a far better position, but the game in the game of baseball, anything can happen.
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Chicago is 83-47 this year, but their pythagorean record is even better as they’re outscoring the opposition by 217 runs.
This team is resilient, strong and deep. Each time they look to falter—like dropping back-to-back games to the Dodgers—they bounce back. The latest example was a motivating 8-7 victory over the Pirates on Monday night.
The Giants aren’t so resilient. They’ve been reeling ever since the All-Star break, but things may be turning around. San Fran has won three of its last four.
The Cubs have a winning percentage of .638 and have won five more games than baseball’s next best team, yet they’re still just barely in the black with a total moneyline of $208. Of course, that’s better than the Giants whose second half has really cost bettors. San Francisco’s moneyline is -$272.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
The Giants haven’t announced their starting rotation for the Cubs series with Friday’s starter particularly up in the air.
Albert Suarez took this spot in the rotation last go around with Jake Peavy hitting the disabled list.
The 26-year old rookie has been up and down for San Francisco this year, filling-in in the rotation and in the bullpen as needed. His last start was serviceable. Though he only lasted four and a third innings, he kept the team in the game despite having pitched in relief over the last month.
Suarez could get another start on Friday against the Cubs if another San Fran veteran isn’t ready to come off the disabled list.
Matt Cain took the mound for Triple-A Fresno in a rehab start on Saturday and came out of the start feeling healthy and ready to return to the majors. He, however, struggled in the outing, giving up six runs—four earned—on 10 hits and a couple walks. He struck out four in his five innings of work.
The 31-year old right-hander has had another down year plagued with injury and ineffectiveness, going 4-8 with a 5.81 ERA and 1.554 WHIP. According to the numbers, Suarez would be the safer bet with a 3-2 mark, 4.35 ERA and 1.300 WHIP in 60 big league innings.
While who is on the mound for the Giants is still up in the air, the Cubs will be in an excellent position either way, countering with All-Star southpaw Jon Lester.
Lester is having a very fine year going 14-4 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.069 WHIP in 160 innings of work, spread over 26 starts.
The 32-year old lefty’s ERA and WHIP are both down from last year, but his FIP is actually elevated as he’s already allowed three more home runs in 45 fewer innings. He’s also only two walks off the number he allowed a season ago.
Those trends aside, Lester’s been more predictable this year save for two bad outings in early July. In his last five starts, Lester has gone at least six innings in each, allowing two or fewer runs each time.
The last time out, the Cubs lost Lester’s start, but that was more a result of the offense as he held the Dodgers scoreless over six innings before the team eventually fell 1-0. Before that, Chicago had won each of his first seven starts after the All-Star break.
LIVE BETTING
The lone Achilles Heel, if you can call it that, for the Cubs is their ability to win the close game.
They dropped a couple one-run games against the Dodgers over the weekend to fall to 17-19 in one run affairs this year. Typically, that’s a sign of a weak bullpen, though the pen played a crucial role, giving up just one run in six and two-thirds on Monday night.
The Cubs are dealing with some key injuries. Hector Rondon was supposed to move to the eighth inning with the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman to shorten the game, but has been injured. He’s not expected back until the end of this series.
Meanwhile, John Lackey’s injury has forced Mike Montgomery from his bullpen role into the rotation. If this is a close game late, it could open the door for the Giants, though San Francisco doesn’t have the same bullpen that it enjoyed during its World Series runs in 2010, 2012 and 2014. On top of that, given the rotation matchup, the Cubs are likely to need less innings for the pen.
The Cubs’ pen will also have an easier—and less powerful—lineup to contend with as it navigates the game’s final innings.
QUICK PICK
The Cubs have a proven ace on the mound and are among the best of the best at home going 46-19. They’re also rolling with a 21-6 record in their last 27 games.
The Giants, on the other hand, may be starting to turn the corner, but they’ve been really bad for a month and a half and have a big question mark lined up to start this game.
Regardless of where you look, everything is pointing to a Cubs win on Friday. Look to fade the Giants in this game and go ahead and take the over the spread with the Cubs having already notched 36 blow-out wins.
MLB Odds: Cubs 5, Giants 4
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 between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs will take place Friday, September 2, 2016, at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. The game will be televised live on WGN.
