MLB Preview

Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs

Saturday, 3:55 pm Eastern – FOX

Opening Line: Cubs -115, Total 10 flat

 

The Chicago Cubs will continue to try and gain ground on the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central as they take on Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros on Saturday.  The Cubs turn to Ted Lilly on Saturday.  Lilly is 8-4 with a 3.67 ERA this season. Lilly is coming off a win over the Pirates on July 7th in which he gave up one run on eight hits over 7 1/3 innings. He's 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in his last two starts. Lilly faced Houston on April 9th and gave up three runs on six hits over six innings. 
 

Houston turns to Roy Oswalt on Saturday.  Oswalt picked up the win against the Mets in his last start giving up three runs and seven hits in seven innings.  This is his first start against the Cubs this season.  He was 1-3 last season against the Cubs with an ERA of 3.33.

 

The Cubs are -115 favorites with a total of 10 flat .

 

Here were the betting statistics heading into Friday’s game.  The Astros are 7-21 in their last 28 games as a road underdog. The Astros are 2-7 in their last 9 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Astros are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. the National League Central. The Astros are 5-1 in Oswalt's last 6 starts.

 

The Astros are 4-1 in Oswalt's last 5 starts as a road underdog. The Astros are 37-16 in Oswalt's last 53 starts vs. the National League Central. The Astros are 0-4 in Oswalt's last 4 road starts. The Astros are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

 

The Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a home favorite. The Cubs are 10-1 in their last 11 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 home games. The Cubs are 12-4 in their last 16 overall. The Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 games as a favorite. The Cubs are 4-1 in Lilly's last 5 starts.

 

The Over is 6-2 in the Astros last 8 games as a road underdog. The Over is 5-2 in the Astros last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Over is 9-4 in the Astros last 13 games as an underdog. The Over is 17-8-1 in the Astros last 26 overall. The Over is 7-1-1 in Oswalt's last 9 starts overall. The Under is 6-2 in Oswalt's last 8 starts vs. the National League Central. The Over is 6-1 in the Cubs last 7 home games. The Under is 5-1 in the Cubs last 6 games as a favorite. The Under is 4-1 in the Cubs last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago between the two teams.