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MLB
Thursday, May 12
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Hot lines: Friday's best MLB bets
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San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs (-107, NA )
The World Series champs have won six straight and eight of nine heading into their weekend series at Wrigley.
Friday's starter, Madison Bumgarner, has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts, giving up a grand total of two earned runs. He doesn't have a win to show for it. This 21-year-old lefty is overdue to get some run support.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster also has been pitching well lately, but he's 4-8 with a 4.76 ERA lifetime against the Giants.
Chicago is 2-6 in its last eight games in the Friendly Confines, including Thursday's 9-1 loss to the Cardinals. And the Cubs are 1-7 in Dempster's last eight home starts.
No-shows are increasing at Wrigley, with good reason. Fans who do show up aren't seeing much clutch hitting. Chicago's beloved losers are hitting .227 with runners on second and third.
Pick: Giants
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (-106, 7)
Losing two of three at home to Washington was not how the Braves envisioned gearing up for a weekend showdown with the NL East-leading Phillies.
It didn't help that right fielder Jason Heyward missed the last two games with a sore right shoulder. He took a cortisone shot and is expected to return to the lineup within a few days.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has blown three of his last seven save opportunities, though he did earn the win in Thursday's 6-5, 10-inning comeback victory.
Projected starters Cole Hamels and Brandon Beachy both are on a roll. Hamels' 1.23 road ERA, however, can't be ignored. Neither can the Phils' 11-5 road record.
The Braves took two of three in Philly last weekend, evening the season series at 3-3. But look for the Phillies to expand their 4 1/2-game bulge over the team once considered their toughest competition.
Pick: Phillies
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Thursday, May 12
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot lines: Friday's best MLB bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs (-107, NA )
The World Series champs have won six straight and eight of nine heading into their weekend series at Wrigley.
Friday's starter, Madison Bumgarner, has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts, giving up a grand total of two earned runs. He doesn't have a win to show for it. This 21-year-old lefty is overdue to get some run support.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster also has been pitching well lately, but he's 4-8 with a 4.76 ERA lifetime against the Giants.
Chicago is 2-6 in its last eight games in the Friendly Confines, including Thursday's 9-1 loss to the Cardinals. And the Cubs are 1-7 in Dempster's last eight home starts.
No-shows are increasing at Wrigley, with good reason. Fans who do show up aren't seeing much clutch hitting. Chicago's beloved losers are hitting .227 with runners on second and third.
Pick: Giants
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (-106, 7)
Losing two of three at home to Washington was not how the Braves envisioned gearing up for a weekend showdown with the NL East-leading Phillies.
It didn't help that right fielder Jason Heyward missed the last two games with a sore right shoulder. He took a cortisone shot and is expected to return to the lineup within a few days.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has blown three of his last seven save opportunities, though he did earn the win in Thursday's 6-5, 10-inning comeback victory.
Projected starters Cole Hamels and Brandon Beachy both are on a roll. Hamels' 1.23 road ERA, however, can't be ignored. Neither can the Phils' 11-5 road record.
The Braves took two of three in Philly last weekend, evening the season series at 3-3. But look for the Phillies to expand their 4 1/2-game bulge over the team once considered their toughest competition.
Pick: Phillies
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