Ben Burns
Game: Chicago Cubs at Florida Marlins Jul 31 2009 7:10PM
Prediction: under
Reason: The Cubs saw each of their last three games produce double-digits in combined runs. Those games were at Wrigley Field against the Astros. I expect to see much better pitching for this evening's series opener at Florida.
Harden gets the call for the Cubs. After a uncharacteristically slow start, he's been dominant recently. In fact, over his last three appearances, he's gone 2-0 with an extremely stingy 0.95 ERA. During that 19-inning stretch, he's recorded 21 K's while issuing just two free passes. Not surprisingly, all three of those games stayed below the total.
While Harden has had some trouble during the afternoon and at Wrigley, he's been excellent both on the road and under the lights. In seven evening starts, he's gone 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA. In seven road starts, he's gone 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA. The 'under' was 5-1-1 in those games and is 6-1-1 his last eight road starts, dating back to last season.
Volstad goes for Marlins and he's allowed four earned runs or less in seven straight starts, four of which stayed below the total. Looking back to last season and we find that he's allowed four earned runs or less in 16 of his last 17 home starts. It's also worth noting that Volstad has a very solid 2.84 ERA in three career starts vs. the Cubs. He allowed two earned runs in all three of those games, lasting a minimum of six innings in each.
With Volstad's consistency and Harden currently in top form, I feel the 'under' is well worth a look.
Game: Chicago Cubs at Florida Marlins Jul 31 2009 7:10PM
Prediction: under
Reason: The Cubs saw each of their last three games produce double-digits in combined runs. Those games were at Wrigley Field against the Astros. I expect to see much better pitching for this evening's series opener at Florida.
Harden gets the call for the Cubs. After a uncharacteristically slow start, he's been dominant recently. In fact, over his last three appearances, he's gone 2-0 with an extremely stingy 0.95 ERA. During that 19-inning stretch, he's recorded 21 K's while issuing just two free passes. Not surprisingly, all three of those games stayed below the total.
While Harden has had some trouble during the afternoon and at Wrigley, he's been excellent both on the road and under the lights. In seven evening starts, he's gone 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA. In seven road starts, he's gone 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA. The 'under' was 5-1-1 in those games and is 6-1-1 his last eight road starts, dating back to last season.
Volstad goes for Marlins and he's allowed four earned runs or less in seven straight starts, four of which stayed below the total. Looking back to last season and we find that he's allowed four earned runs or less in 16 of his last 17 home starts. It's also worth noting that Volstad has a very solid 2.84 ERA in three career starts vs. the Cubs. He allowed two earned runs in all three of those games, lasting a minimum of six innings in each.
With Volstad's consistency and Harden currently in top form, I feel the 'under' is well worth a look.
