Cubs -195 slap St. Louis Cardinals
Game Time: 08/09/2008 03:55 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Wrigley Field should be awash in smiles once today's game ends and the Cubs have vanquished their rivals from St. Louis. Cash Carlos Zambrano and Chicago vs. the Cardinals.
Our Saturday afternoon MLB selection is on the Chicago Cubs at home in Wrigley over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Carlos Zambrano gave the Cubs quite a scare in the month of June when he went 1-2 in four starts, giving up 16 earned runs in just over 25 innings before finally landing on the DL with a strained shoulder injury on June 21. Fortunately, the Cubs have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as the 27-year-old Zambrano has looked like his old self since coming back from the DL on Independence day. The Chicago ace has gone 4-1 in his six starts since coming off the shelf and has lowered his ERA back down to 2.76 in the process.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have been monitoring his innings and pitches, taking care not to overuse Zambrano and risk another trip to the DL during this critical time of the season. You'd have to search a long time to find a pitcher who has been more dominant against one team in the last five years than Zambrano has been against division rival St. Louis. With his shutout victory against the Cards in his only start against them this season, the 6-5 Venezuelan is now 8-0 in his last 11 starts against St. Louis dating back to the beginning of the 2005 season.
But Zambrano isn't the only Cub who has made a successful return from the DL recently. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano has been absolutely en fuego since returning from injury on July 23. During an 11-game stretch beginning on July 27, Soriano had 20 hits, six homers, and 14 RBI in only 48 at bats. It doesn't get much hotter than that. Take the Cubs.
Free Pick: Cubs -195
Game Time: 08/09/2008 03:55 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Wrigley Field should be awash in smiles once today's game ends and the Cubs have vanquished their rivals from St. Louis. Cash Carlos Zambrano and Chicago vs. the Cardinals.
Our Saturday afternoon MLB selection is on the Chicago Cubs at home in Wrigley over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Carlos Zambrano gave the Cubs quite a scare in the month of June when he went 1-2 in four starts, giving up 16 earned runs in just over 25 innings before finally landing on the DL with a strained shoulder injury on June 21. Fortunately, the Cubs have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as the 27-year-old Zambrano has looked like his old self since coming back from the DL on Independence day. The Chicago ace has gone 4-1 in his six starts since coming off the shelf and has lowered his ERA back down to 2.76 in the process.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have been monitoring his innings and pitches, taking care not to overuse Zambrano and risk another trip to the DL during this critical time of the season. You'd have to search a long time to find a pitcher who has been more dominant against one team in the last five years than Zambrano has been against division rival St. Louis. With his shutout victory against the Cards in his only start against them this season, the 6-5 Venezuelan is now 8-0 in his last 11 starts against St. Louis dating back to the beginning of the 2005 season.
But Zambrano isn't the only Cub who has made a successful return from the DL recently. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano has been absolutely en fuego since returning from injury on July 23. During an 11-game stretch beginning on July 27, Soriano had 20 hits, six homers, and 14 RBI in only 48 at bats. It doesn't get much hotter than that. Take the Cubs.
Free Pick: Cubs -195