Zobrist to carry Cubs past Phillies?
Chicago recruited Ben Zobrist in December to play a key supporting role for manager Joe Maddon. Frequently, though, the do-it-all infielder has wielded the most dangerous bat on the majors’ best team.
Zobrist carries a 12-game hitting streak into today’s series opener vs. Philadelphia, with a 2:20 p.m. ET first pitch at Wrigley Field. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv favor the Cubs by a wide margin, whereas the Phils enter as +250 underdogs. The over/under figure sits at 8.5 runs.
During his current tear, the 35-year-old Zobrist owns a .435 average to accompany a .509 OBP. He’s also the first Cubbie to reach base safely in 31 consecutive contests in a single campaign since Starlin Castro achieved the feat in 2011. Zobrist and Kris Bryant have combined for five homers and 12 RBIs in the past six affairs.
Philadelphia (26-21), conversely, longs for such production at the dish. Pete Mackanin’s troops rank 29th in baseball with 155 runs. Even so, the Phils remain right in the thick of the NL East race. Adam Morgan (1-2, 5.61 ERA) aspires to keep it that way this afternoon. The lefty held Atlanta to two runs on four hits in his most recent outing.
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Maddon turns to Jon Lester (4-3, 2.60), whose weekend gig in San Francisco was disastrous. The three-time All-Star surrendered five runs and walked three across 2 2/3 innings. Prior to that misfire on the West Coast, however, he had allowed zero or one run in six of eight assignments.
Look for Lester to revert to form in a few hours. Opponents are quickly discovering that if they can neutralize Odubel Herrera (.327), Philadelphia’s chances of creating havoc decrease significantly. With all due respect to Zobrist, the Cubs (31-14) needn’t pin their hopes on one individual.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5
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