The Chicago Cubs have hit a lull in recent weeks, and have watched their record slump back toward the rest of the pack. However, the team was still so good early in the season that it has the best record in the major leagues and is one of the favorites to win the World Series. The Cubs are tough to beat at home and will be favored in a matchup against the Seattle Mariners on Friday, July 29th, 2016, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois in MLB wagering.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cubs have the top run-differential in the majors at plus-146 and a corresponding 59-40 record, so there is no fluke about where they stand. However, a unit that was running in overdrive early on has slowed down, as the hitting especially has had trouble of late. Chicago has plenty of talented bats and can break out quickly, so the Mariners can’t expect to make this a low-scoring game. First baseman Anthony Rizzo leads the way with a .287 average with 24 homers and 76 RBIs, while third baseman Kris Bryant is batting .283 with 25 homers and 65 RBIs. Those two lead the way, but players like Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler have been solid, while intriguing young prospects like Addison Russell, Javier Baez and Wilson Contreras have also produced.
The Mariners are 51-48 on the season and aiming to stay in the playoff race in the American League. They trail the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros in the A.L. West but have a strong run-differential and could very well compete for a postseason berth. Seattle would love to get a key road game victory here, as it can’t afford to fall much further behind. The Mariners are led on offense by the trio of Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz. Cano is batting .303 with 22 homers and 62 RBIs, Seager is hitting .288 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs, while Cruz is hitting .285 with 25 homers and 66 RBIs. The Mariners play in a pitcher-friendly stadium but have done a nice job of putting up runs.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
The Cubs will send left-hander Jon Lester to the mound. The quality veteran is 10-4 with a 3.09 ERA on the season with 118 strikeouts in 122.1 innings. It’s hard to find a more stable pitcher, as Lester has long been a reliable hurler. He will have to navigate the tough Seattle middle of the order, but if he can keep Cano, Cruz and Seager at bay, the rest of the lineup isn’t so tough.
The Mariners will counter with veteran right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma. He is 11-6 with a 3.96 ERA on the season and has 10 wins in his past 12 starts. The 35-year-old doesn’t have quite the same career numbers as Lester, but is also a savvy pitcher who will usually keep his team in the game. The Cubs are a very potent offense, but it’s not a given that they will touch up Iwakuma.
LIVE BETTING
The Cubs are gearing up for their expected postseason push by trading for left-handed relievers Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman in the past week. Chapman has arguably the best fastball in the major leagues and will be slotted in as a dominant closer. Montgomery is another solid piece to shore up a bullpen that was one of the team’s few weaknesses.
Even though the Mariners aren’t as top-to-bottom talented as the Cubs, they have a solid core and aren’t pushovers. However, it’s clear Chicago is the team to beat in this showdown in MLB wagering.
QUICK PICK
The Cubs have the better starting pitcher, the better lineup and home field advantage. Despite a recent slump, this is still one of the best teams in all of baseball. Expect Chicago to knock off the Mariners in this regular season affair.
MLB Odds: Cubs 6, Mariners 4
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