Chris Jordan
Miami at ATLANTA
These two should have no trouble keeping the total low, as we’ve seen this clash stay under in four straight meetings overall (all this season) and in five of the last six in Atlanta. Though they both can score some points, they’re defensive by nature. And when you have a pair of rivals, like these Southeast teams, you can expect a slow-down tempo and physical battle til the end.
In those four unders this season, these two teams tallied 160, 174, 174 and 160 … notice the similarities there. Very consistent with these numbers, and that average of 167 points is more than 20 points less than the posted total. Let’s play this one low.
1♦ UNDER Hawks/Heat
St. Louis at CHICAGO -130
Wrapping up a four-game series, I’ll play the Cubs with southpaw Ted Lilly, who comes in with a perfect 2-0 start to the season to go along with his respectable 3.86 ERA.
Two straight dramatic wins will have the Cubs momentum-driven for this nationally televised game, not to mention their winning runs of 57-27 at home, 9-3 on Sundays, 6-2 against St. Louis and 19-8 at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals.
Lilly was rock solid in a 4-0 home victory over Colorado, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finishing up by allowing one hit and two walks while striking out eight. Chicago is unbeaten in the left-hander’s last six starts overall, and with Lilly on the mound the Cubbies are on further runs of 22-8 overall, 20-8 at home, 6-1 against St. Louis, 12-2 against teams with a winning record, 5-0 when he’s the installed chalk and 5-0 when taking on N.L. Central foes.
Lilly rolls into this primetime affair with a 6-2 mark and 2.99 ERA in 11 career starts against the Cardinals, including a perfect 3-0 mark with a 3.06 ERA in five outings last season. Lilly has been steallar against the Redbirds, pitching at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts against them, giving up three earned runs or fewer in eight of those contests.
1♦ CUBS (LIST Lilly)
Miami at ATLANTA
These two should have no trouble keeping the total low, as we’ve seen this clash stay under in four straight meetings overall (all this season) and in five of the last six in Atlanta. Though they both can score some points, they’re defensive by nature. And when you have a pair of rivals, like these Southeast teams, you can expect a slow-down tempo and physical battle til the end.
In those four unders this season, these two teams tallied 160, 174, 174 and 160 … notice the similarities there. Very consistent with these numbers, and that average of 167 points is more than 20 points less than the posted total. Let’s play this one low.
1♦ UNDER Hawks/Heat
St. Louis at CHICAGO -130
Wrapping up a four-game series, I’ll play the Cubs with southpaw Ted Lilly, who comes in with a perfect 2-0 start to the season to go along with his respectable 3.86 ERA.
Two straight dramatic wins will have the Cubs momentum-driven for this nationally televised game, not to mention their winning runs of 57-27 at home, 9-3 on Sundays, 6-2 against St. Louis and 19-8 at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals.
Lilly was rock solid in a 4-0 home victory over Colorado, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finishing up by allowing one hit and two walks while striking out eight. Chicago is unbeaten in the left-hander’s last six starts overall, and with Lilly on the mound the Cubbies are on further runs of 22-8 overall, 20-8 at home, 6-1 against St. Louis, 12-2 against teams with a winning record, 5-0 when he’s the installed chalk and 5-0 when taking on N.L. Central foes.
Lilly rolls into this primetime affair with a 6-2 mark and 2.99 ERA in 11 career starts against the Cardinals, including a perfect 3-0 mark with a 3.06 ERA in five outings last season. Lilly has been steallar against the Redbirds, pitching at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts against them, giving up three earned runs or fewer in eight of those contests.
1♦ CUBS (LIST Lilly)
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