MLB Picks and Predictions for Wednesday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Wednesday, May 13.
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs, 8:05PM ET
Ted Lilly won his last start on the road, but it's at Wrigley Field where he seems to be at his best.
Looking for his third straight victory, the left-hander also will try to help the Chicago Cubs to their third consecutive win Wednesday night against the struggling San Diego Padres.
Lilly (4-2, 3.11 ERA) is off to a solid start for Chicago (18-14), especially at Wrigley where he's 2-1 with a 0.42 ERA. He's 18-11 with a 3.79 ERA in 37 career starts there since signing with the Cubs prior to the 2007 season.
MLB Free Pick: Chicago | Best Line: -140 SPORTSBETTING
Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:40PM ET
Confidence and aggressiveness appear to have played a major part in Johnny Cueto's impressive development this season.
The second-year right-hander looks to win a career-best fourth consecutive decision Wednesday night while helping the Cincinnati Reds sweep a three-game road series from the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks for the first time in almost 10 years.
Cueto (3-1, 1.59 ERA) struggled to find consistency as a rookie last year, finishing 9-14 and 4.81 ERA. He struggled down the stretch with a 2-6 record and 5.09 ERA in his last 13 starts.
The 23-year-old started 2009 in similar fashion, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 10-2 defeat to Pittsburgh on April 11. But Cueto has been outstanding since by going 3-0 with a 0.80 ERA in five starts, winning four.
MLB Free Pick: Cincinnati | Best Line: -120 SPORTSBETTING
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies, 7:05PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies discovered standing pat is not the best way to repeat as World Series champions.
After reviving a missing part of their game from last year, the Phillies seek consecutive wins as their three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers continues on Wednesday night.
While the Phillies (16-14) had plenty of power in 2008, finishing first in the National League and second overall with 214 homers, they also were aggressive on the basepaths with 136 steals, good for fourth in the majors while converting a league-best 84.5 percent of their attempts.
Philadelphia again is among the major league leaders with 42 homers, but entered Tuesday's game with just 12 stolen bases to rank 27th.
MLB Free Pick: Philadelphia | Best Line: -115 SPORTSBETTING
http://www.thespread.com/mlb-baseball-top-stories-500/mlb-picks-and-predictions-for-wednesday-m.html