Chicago Cubs -116 versus Astros
Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
It should be loud tonight at Wrigley Field when the Cubs host the Astros to open a 3-game set. Back Jason Marquis and Chicago in this one against Houston and Brandon Backe.
Our Tuesday night MLB selection is on the Chicago Cubs over the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.
Just when the Cubs could start to taste the pennant at least a little bit, the Brewers decided to get hot and have wrested the lead in the NL Central back away from Chicago. The Brewers have won seven of their last nine games and they are hitting the ball perhaps better than at any time during the season. And they have a relatively easy schedule in front of them the rest of the way with series against the Pirates, Reds, and Astros before ending the season at home for their last seven games.
The Cubs do not get a head-to-head with Milwaukee the rest of the way, so they will have to just play better than them from here out and hope to pick up a game along the way. They can start with this series against the Astros as the starters listed for Houston in the first two games are Brandon Backe and Troy Patton. The right-hander Backe goes tonight and this is only his second start since coming off of Tommy John surgery from last year. In his first start against the aforementioned Brewers, Backe had his problems and only lasted 5.2 innings throwing 91 pitches and taking the loss.
The Cubs lost Jason Marquis' last start as well, but unlike Backe he pitched well enough to win and should have if not for some very late heroics by the Dodgers off Chicago closer Ryan Dempster. Marquis retired the first 14 batters he faced in that one and his only walk was an intentional pass. No letdowns tonight for Chicago. Take the Cubs.
Free Pick: Cubs -116