Milwaukee Brewers (1-2) vs. Chicago Cubs (1-2)
As this is being written the Milwaukee Brewers are losing the rubber match in their three game series against St. Louis, not exactly the start they had in mind with Ryan Braun popping off about how this team is better without Prince Fielder.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs
Monday April 9
Wrigley Field
7:0PM
Moneyline: Milwaukee -130, Chicago +110
O/U: Not currently listed
PITCHING MATCHUP: Milwaukee RH Shaun Marcum (2011: 13-7, 3.54 ERA) vs. Chicago RH Chris Volstad (2011: 5-13, 4.89 ERA).
Milwaukee
Braun used to be one of those silent stars but now after getting busted for PEDs he has a much larger profile.
I liked him a lot better when he was seen and not heard.
The only way the Brew Crew are better this season is if they have better pitching. Shaun Marcum was very good in his first year in the National League, pitching a career best 200 innings with a solid ERA. He was 2-0 against last year’s bad Cubs team – which hasn’t really improved much – including a win at Wrigley that might have been his best outing of the season. April was his sharpest month last year and he is generally a fast starter. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Chicago
The Chicago Cubs have proven two things in their season opening series against Washington and neither are good for them. The first is that Washington may actually be a contender the second is that reliever Carlos Marmol is as unpredictable as ever – with a blown save and a loss in just two outings.
This is the first year of the Theo Epstein era and I feel like things will get better, it just might be a while.
Starting for the Cubs in the series opener against division rival Milwaukee is Chris Volstad, acquired from the Marlins when the Marlins inexplicably wanted to take on mercurial Carlos Zambrano. Volstad is coming off a 5-13 season and has never delivered on the promise he showed as a rookie.
One thing to note is that he has pitched better against Milwaukee than any other National League team – posting a 1.71 ERA over 4 starts.
O/U Pick:
Score Prediction: Chicago 5 – Milwaukee 4
