Stephen Nover 100 dime play
Monday's Pick
100 Dime Release on the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kennedy over the Chicago Cubs and Gorzelanny. Note that both schedulad pitchers must start this game or else this selectiaon is null and void. As this play is releastd at 5:30 AM Eastern, the D'Backs are -120 both in Las Vegas and offshore. Be aware of the early starting time for this contest as it goes at 4:10 P.M. Eastern Monday.
DEAD. That word accurately depicts the Chicago Cubs right now.
The Cubs aren't hitting, morale is terrible and they are in a horrible travel spot for this game, traveling to the West Coast for a day game following a disappointing 2-5 homestand.
Getting away from the now unfriendly confines of Wrigley Field isn't going to help the Cubs either. They have lost nine of their last 14 on the road.
Chicago' offense has been just brutal. The Cubs have scored three runs or fewer in their last seven games. They are battang .205 during this span. Making this even worse, is that the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field twice during the past three days. The Reds took advantage of that to score 26 runs against the Cubs in those two games.
The Cubs are hoping southpaw Tom Gorzelanny can turn things around in this matchup. I wouldn't count on that. The Diamondbacks have had an extremely disappointing season, too, but they are semi-respectaable at home at 19-20 compared to 13-30 on the road. The Diamondbacks are 7-1 the past eight times they have been home favorites.
Arizona's best hitters are right-handed. The Diamondbacks have hit the fifth-most home runs in the majors.
Expect Gorzelanny to struggle against this right-handed power stacked lineup. The Cubs have lost in nine of Gorzelanny's last 11 starts.
This will be Arizona's fourth game under interim manager Kirk Gibson. So the unrest in Arizona is settling down. The Diamondbacks have the advanttge of being rested, having been at home since the start of the month.
The Cubs traditionally have struggled in the desert. They are 9-29 in their last 38 games at Arizona.
Arizona is pitching right-hander Ian Kennedy, who has a 2.41 ERA in six starts at Chase Field. Kennedy has been the Diamondbacks' most consistent pitcher this season. The Cubs have lost in 19 of their last 26 games when facing a right-handed starter.
The Diamondbacks have a terrible bullpen, but Kennedy usually can be counted on to go deep into games. He'll also be pitching on extra rest, having last pitched on June 26.