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MLB Odds: Chicago Cubs host Milwaukee Brewers
The resurgent Milwaukee Brewers have moved into contention in the National League Central standings due to their excellent play at Miller Park, but life on the road has been much more difficult.
The Brewers dropped a 1-0 contest Monday to open a four-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and will play the third game of the series Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 (PT).
Milwaukee has registered a major league-best 25-9 home record thus far during the 2011 campaign, but has fallen short on the road with a 13-20 mark entering Tuesday’s action. Offensively, the team is hitting just .222 away from Miller Park, while averaging 3.15 runs per contest.
The Brewers have been playing great baseball overall despite road bumps along the way, tallying a 24-8 record since May 9, which is the best record in the majors. The starting staff has played its part in the team’s recent success, going 19-5 with a 3.31 ERA over the last 35 games.
Left-hander Chris Narveson (3-4, 4.32 ERA) is scheduled to make his 14th start of the season and has led the team to consecutive victories over his last two outings. He has compiled a 1-0 record and 2.70 ERA in two June starts. Narveson will be looking to win his first game on the road this year, coming in with an 0-3 record and 4.69 ERA.
On a positive note, he has given up just 36 hits in 40 1/3 frames away from Miller Park. The ball club has posted a 1-6 mark in his last seven road starts, while the ‘under’ has gone 5-2 in those contests.
Chicago returned home from a 2-8 road trip to pick up the victory Monday night courtesy of an infield ground out in the eighth. The Cubs have enjoyed success against the Brewers since the 1997 season, posting a 108-97 mark over that span, including a 53-49 record at Wrigley Field.
Carlos Zambrano (5-3, 4.40 ERA) hopes to continue his recent success against Milwaukee, already proving victorious in a 7-4 road win on April 8. The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings in that start.
Zambrano would rather face the Brewers at their home ballpark for this particular contest, as he’s registered a 10-5 record and 3.35 ERA in 17 career outings (16 starts) at Miller Park. The Cubs have won seven of the last eight meetings with Zambrano on the hill against the Brewers, but are actually just 2-7 in his last nine home starts in the series.
The 30-year-old out of Venezuela has done a good job of holding Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun at bay no matter the venue, limiting him to a .243 average and one home run in 37 career at-bats.
Home teams have gone 10-4 this year with umpire Ed Hickox calling balls and strikes this season, but the margin of victory has been minimal at 0.36 runs per contest. It’s also important to note that the Cubs are 0-4 in Zambrano’s last four starts with him behind the dish.
Weather forecasts suggest game-time temperatures in the low-60s with a sixty percent chance of showers throughout the contest. The wind is expected to be 5-10 mph out of the southeast (right to left).
The resurgent Milwaukee Brewers have moved into contention in the National League Central standings due to their excellent play at Miller Park, but life on the road has been much more difficult.
The Brewers dropped a 1-0 contest Monday to open a four-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and will play the third game of the series Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 5:05 (PT).
Milwaukee has registered a major league-best 25-9 home record thus far during the 2011 campaign, but has fallen short on the road with a 13-20 mark entering Tuesday’s action. Offensively, the team is hitting just .222 away from Miller Park, while averaging 3.15 runs per contest.
The Brewers have been playing great baseball overall despite road bumps along the way, tallying a 24-8 record since May 9, which is the best record in the majors. The starting staff has played its part in the team’s recent success, going 19-5 with a 3.31 ERA over the last 35 games.
Left-hander Chris Narveson (3-4, 4.32 ERA) is scheduled to make his 14th start of the season and has led the team to consecutive victories over his last two outings. He has compiled a 1-0 record and 2.70 ERA in two June starts. Narveson will be looking to win his first game on the road this year, coming in with an 0-3 record and 4.69 ERA.
On a positive note, he has given up just 36 hits in 40 1/3 frames away from Miller Park. The ball club has posted a 1-6 mark in his last seven road starts, while the ‘under’ has gone 5-2 in those contests.
Chicago returned home from a 2-8 road trip to pick up the victory Monday night courtesy of an infield ground out in the eighth. The Cubs have enjoyed success against the Brewers since the 1997 season, posting a 108-97 mark over that span, including a 53-49 record at Wrigley Field.
Carlos Zambrano (5-3, 4.40 ERA) hopes to continue his recent success against Milwaukee, already proving victorious in a 7-4 road win on April 8. The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings in that start.
Zambrano would rather face the Brewers at their home ballpark for this particular contest, as he’s registered a 10-5 record and 3.35 ERA in 17 career outings (16 starts) at Miller Park. The Cubs have won seven of the last eight meetings with Zambrano on the hill against the Brewers, but are actually just 2-7 in his last nine home starts in the series.
The 30-year-old out of Venezuela has done a good job of holding Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun at bay no matter the venue, limiting him to a .243 average and one home run in 37 career at-bats.
Home teams have gone 10-4 this year with umpire Ed Hickox calling balls and strikes this season, but the margin of victory has been minimal at 0.36 runs per contest. It’s also important to note that the Cubs are 0-4 in Zambrano’s last four starts with him behind the dish.
Weather forecasts suggest game-time temperatures in the low-60s with a sixty percent chance of showers throughout the contest. The wind is expected to be 5-10 mph out of the southeast (right to left).
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