Stephen Nover
Cubs / Braves
Play: Cubs
It took up until the All-Star break, but the Cubs are finally coming on. Chicago is unbeaten since the All-Star Game going 4-0. The Cubs have won their past five road contests and are 15-6 on the season versus lefty starters, including winning their last seven against southpaws.
Atlanta is pitching rookie lefty Sean Newcomb. He looked good during his first four big league starts, but the league has figured him out. Newcomb has made two starts this month and is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA giving up 11 runs in 7 1/3 innings. The Braves are playing with a thin bullpen having just recalled hitters Sean Rodriguez and Danny Santana. They are missing injured setup man Arodys Vizcaino, perhaps their most talented reliever.
The Cubs are averaging 7.7 runs in their last four games.
Veteran John Lackey gets the start for Chicago. Lackey is having a down season bothered by right foot plantar fascitis. But he has the veteran savvy and a better bullpen going for him that Newcomb lacks.
Lackey also has a 2.59 career ERA versus the Braves in four starts.
OC Dooley
Mariners / Astros Under 10
At most offshore locations this total opened in the "nine" range but has since risen giving us some extra wiggle room on the "under" even though these pair played a wild 9-to-7 shootout last night. There is major INJURY news as star Houston shortstop Carlos Correa (sprained thumb ligament) has just gone on the disabled list and will be sidelined anywhere from 6-to-8 weeks. With one of the main middle-of-the-order run producers sidelined the juggernaut Astros offense be curtailed. With Collin McHugh closing in on a return to the Houston rotation for the first time this campaign, tonight may be one of the last opportunities for Brad Peacock who deserves to stay a starter (1.98 ERA in the past five assignments). Seattle rookie Sam Gaviglio already has faced Houston once this campaign and held them to just TWO runs. As a team when Seattle has been cast as an underdog of between (+125/+175) they have gone a resounding 15-4 UNDER averaging just 2.7 runs per contest. In the past three years after a horrible pitching performance where the team yielded 8+ runs to the opposition, Houston has responded going 17-5 UNDER the number