Chicago vs. Cincinnati MLB Betting Preview
Cubs fans are always optimistic, but most around Major League Baseball believe it will be another long year for the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Chicago (Maholm) vs. Cincinnati (Bailey)
Date/Time: May 2, 7:10 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Moneyline: Reds (-165) Cubs (+145)
Runline: Reds -1.5 (+130) Cubs +1.5 (-150)
Total: 8.5
The Reds were picked to win the National League Central. Cincinnati has recovered to .500 after getting off to a slow start.
This is the type of series the Reds need to win if they are going to win the highly competitive NL Central.
Paul Maholm will be on the mound for the Cubs in this one. Maholm spent his first seven years in the majors with the Pirates before heading to the north side of Chicago this year. He has a disappointing 6.20 ERA in a little over 20 innings so far this year. Cubs pitching hasn’t been very good this year, but the defense has also let them down. Chicago already has 24 errors in 2012.
The Cubs offense is really lacking power. Chicago is dead last in the majors in home runs with 9. Matt Kemp has three more home runs by himself than the entire Cubs team does put together. Bryan LaHair has 5 home runs, but the rest of the team has combined for just four homers.
Starlin Castro continues to be a consistent hitter for the team, but they need some production out of guys like Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
It seems like Homer Bailey has been around forever, but he is still only 25 years old. Bailey was the Reds most highly touted prospect in years. He hasn’t fulfilled his potential, but there is still some time. He has been better in his last couple starts.
The challenge for Bailey now is to be consistently good. Bailey has had an ERA of about 4.50 in each of the last three seasons, and he really needs to get that below 4.
Jay Bruce has been the hitting star for the Reds so far this year. Bruce has now homered in four straight games. He leads the team with a .296 average as well as seven home runs. Scott Rolen and Ryan Ludwick are two guys that need to start hitting for the Reds. Overall, the Reds offense has been disappointing so far this season. Cincinnati is hitting just .240 for the season thus far.
Maholm and Bailey are both guys who are unlikely to shut down the opposition completely. The over is 5-0-1 in Bailey’s last 6 starts against the Cubs. The over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these teams.
MLB Free Pick: Over 8.5
