Thursday afternoon baseball and we will see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs in game 4 of their 4 game series from Wrigley Field in Chicago. Free Pick to follow. First pitch is scheduled for a 2:20 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally.
Betting Odds
Dodgers +116
Chicago -126
Over/ Under: 7.5 U -125
The Dodgers are struggling right now as they have lost 7 of their last 11 games, but they dd get a nice 5-2 win over the Cubs last night. Now LA looks to even this 4 game series with a win this afternoon. LA Still holds a 1 game lead over the Giants in the NL West, but they have struggled on the road, where they are 13-20 on the year. Despite last night's loss the Cubs are still 39-21 on the year and have won 4 of their last 5 games overall, while going 20-14 at home. The Dodgers rank 12th in scoring (4.23 rpg), while on the mound they are 4th in ERA (3.31). Chicago ranks 14th in scoring (4.16 rpg), while on the mound they are 5th in ERA (3.46).
Trends for this game include: The Dodgers are 9-3 in their last 12 during game 4 of a series, but just 2-10 in their last 12 games as an underdog and 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Cubs are 6-0 in their last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game, but just 18-37 in their last 55 during game 4 of a series.
Getting the ball for the Dodgers today will be Carlos Frias, who is 3-5 with a 4.87 ERA as a starter this year, while on the road he has gone 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 4 starts. Carlos has never started vs the Cubs, but faced them out of the pen twice last year and allowed 3 ERs in just 3.1 innings of work.
Taking the hill for the Cubs today will be Jon Lester, who has gone 4-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 14 starts this year, while at home he is 3-3 with a 3.26 ERA. Jon has 1 career start vs the Dodgers and he is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in that start.
Pick: Gonna fade Lester in this game. Yes he has pitched well at times, but I feel that the Dodgers offense can do some damage vs him in this one. Carlos Frias has pitched better on the road than at home this year and I expect a good showing from him tonight. This is a huge game for the Dodgers and I expect them to find a way to win this one.
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Free MLB Betting Pick: Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox
If you've been following pro bettor Teddy Covers' red-hot free pick streak, you'd know some of the picks on his 8-1 run were against the struggling Boston Red Sox. Now though, Covers sees value in this bottomed-out Boston team and thinks they are going to take this one at home on the strength of pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. Combine that with a lackluster pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Gonzalez and there may be some hope for the Sox after all.