The Miami Marlins will be taking on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. WGN will broadcast this NL showdown and the first pitch will be at 2:20 p.m. ET.
Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Marlins have gone 13-22 SU this year and are 17-17 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early part of the season, despite having lost 2.8 units ATS. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 18-15 SU and 14-18 ATS. They’ve lost 5.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.9 units ATS.
Cubs games have a 14-18 over/under record so far in 2018. The Marlins have an over/under record of 16-18.
Wei-Yin Chen will get the nod for the visiting Marlins. The left-handed Chen is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA and five strikeouts. He has yet to face the Cubs this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Cubs are going with lefty Jose Quintana (3-2, 4.99 ERA), who has 27 strikeouts and 16 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.53. Quintana is 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Miami this year.
Miami’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.52 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.02 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.12, along with a WHIP of 1.35 and a K/9 of 9.98.
Marlins hitters have slashed .224/.296/.327 on their way to 3.4 runs scored per game this year, including 3.7 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).
Catcher J.T. Realmuto and first baseman Justin Bour have led Miami’s offense. Realmuto is hitting .309/.382/.515 with 21 hits, eight RBIs and 12 runs scored, while Bour (.236/.347/.453) has produced 25 hits, seven homers, 17 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
Realmuto seemed to enjoy hitting on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .323/.369/.543 across 314 plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .278/.332/.451).
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 3.99 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.56, a WHIP of 1.20 and a K/9 of 8.9.
Chicago’s offense is putting up 5.0 runs per outing, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over its last five. The teams hit .271/.316/.437 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Cubs batters have been led by second baseman Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant. Baez is hitting .290/.333/.653 with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and 24 runs scored, and Bryant’s line is .284/.415/.550 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 20 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .273/.317/.480, Baez seemed to enjoy hitting lefties at home last year, slashing .358/.397/.679 over 58 such plate appearances.
The Marlins have gained 1.1 units and are 5-3 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in five of those games, compared to three that’ve hit the under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 1.4 units and are 4-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to six that’ve cashed the under.
Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Marlins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in three of Chicago’s last seven games.
- Chicago has recorded 19.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 27.4 over its last five.
- The Marlins have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 11 over their last 10.
