Friday MLB Baseball Picks: Cubs vs Rockies
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MLB Betting – Cubs vs Rockies Preview & Pick
Date: Friday, April 15, 2011
Venue: Coors Field, Denver, CO
Broadcast: WCIU, ROOT
Chicago Cubs at Colorado Rockies Betting Lines from Betus.com
Money Line: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
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Chicago Cubs (6-6)
Matt Garza (0-1, 5.68)
The Chicago Cubs aren’t ready to roll over and rebuild in the National League Central; they made some key moves this past offseason, bringing in first baseman Carlos Pena and starting pitcher Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays.
So far, the investments aren’t paying off. Pena is batting .185 with no homers. Garza is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA through two starts, though he did strike out 12 Pirates in his season debut. A visit to Coors Field may not be the answer to his problems. In his one other trip there, Garza allowed four runs and three homers in five innings. His career road ERA is also 63 points higher than his home ERA.
Colorado Rockies (8-2 through April 13)
Jhoulys Chacin (2-0, 2.77)
The Colorado Rockies are off to the National League’s best start. A big reason why: their supporting starting pitchers have elevated their play while ace Ubaldo Jimenez is out. That includes Jhoulys Chacin. On the heels of a breakout 2010 season, he’s unbeaten over his first two starts. 
Chacin lost his one career start against the Cubs but that was at Wrigley Field. At his home field, Coors, Chacin is a rare guy not affected by the thin air. His 3.83 ERA and nine homers allowed in 89.1 innings are quite respectable.
MLB Trends:
CHC are 22-8 in their last 30 road games.
Under is 7-3-1 in CHC last 11 Fri. games.
COL are 39-18 in their last 57 home games.
The pick:
Not only is Chacin effective at home, there’s a good chance he’ll have solid run support. Troy Tulowitzki in particular has picked up where he left off during his insane finish to the 2010 season. Through Wednesday, the superstar shortstop had five homers and 12 RBI over his last seven games. His teammate and fellow MVP hopeful, Carlos Gonzalez, is also keeping up his torrid run production from last year.
Given Garza’s struggles, Chacin’s hot start and the excellent offensive play from the Rockies’ stars early this season, I think the home team can handle the Cubbies on Friday night.
Cubs vs Rockies prediction: Rockies 7, Cubs 3
