Big Z Takes Hill
If the Chicago Cubs are to maintain their spot atop the NL Central, they may have to play better on the road in the final months of the season.
Behind All-Star ace Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs look to avoid a third straight loss and second in a row on a six-game road trip Saturday night against the Houston Astros.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Chicago -122 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 97% of bets for this game have been placed on Chicago -122 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
It wasn’t starting pitching that hurt Chicago (57-39) in a 2-1 loss at Houston on Friday, but rather an offense that had just four hits and picked up where it left off before the All-Star break, when it lost 8-2 against San Francisco on Sunday.
"We scored two prior to the break and one (Friday),” Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "I don’t know if that’s too much rest or too little.”
Friday’s setback dropped the Cubs to 20-27 away from Wrigley Field – where their 37-12 mark is the best in the majors – and cut their division lead to three games over St. Louis. Chicago heads to Arizona after this weekend’s set with the Astros (45-51), who have won three in a row and four of five.
"It’s not like we’re sitting here with a 10-game lead and have room to not stay after it and not stay aggressive," Chicago second baseman Mark DeRosa told the Cubs’ official Web site.
Jim Edmonds homered and Ryan Theriot extended his hitting streak to 11 games Friday for the Cubs. Theriot is batting .396 (19-for-48) during his streak.
However, Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez – Chicago’s 2-through-4 hitters – went a combined 0-for-12. Fukudome, an All-Star starter Tuesday, is 1-for-16 in his last five games.
The Cubs hope Zambrano (10-3, 2.84 ERA) can put together a third straight strong start as he follows up one of his best outings of 2008.
Zambrano, who allowed a hit in two scoreless innings during Tuesday’s All-Star Game, gave up only an Adam Dunn homer and retired the final 20 batters his faced in going eight innings of a 5-1 win over Cincinnati on July 9.
"That’s probably the best I’ve seen him in a long time," said Dunn of Zambrano, who has allowed a run and five hits over 14 innings in his last two starts.
The right-hander is 10-6 with a 2.67 ERA in 21 career starts against Houston. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 victory over the Astros on April 6.
Houston counters with Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 3.48), who despite struggling of late looks for a second straight victory. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-4 win at Washington on July 12.
"Wandy … limited the damage,” Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "That’s what you have to do to prevent teams from putting crooked numbers up on you.”
The left-hander is 1-0 with a 6.89 ERA over his last three starts.
On Friday for the Astros, Carlos Lee tied the game with his 22nd homer in the seventh inning while Hunter Pence had three hits.
Lee is batting .321 (9-for-28) with three homers and seven RBIs in seven games against Chicago this season, and .364 (16-for-44) with four home runs and 12 RBIs versus Zambrano during his career.
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