**Braves at Cubs**
Chipper Jones is hitting .280 with one homer in 14 ABs vs. Carlos Zambrano. (Getty)
--Atlanta (24-23, -92) will wrap up a nine-game road trip with this three-game set at Wrigley Field. The Braves began this trek with back-to-back losses at Arizona, but they have won three of their last four games, including two of three at San Diego.
--Things are getting messy quickly in the Windy City. Chicago (18-28, -1,208) returns home from a nighmare road trip that saw it lose five of six games, including a three-game sweep at Florida. The Cubs are 12 1/2 games off the pace in the National League Central.
--The Braves are in third place in the NL East, 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Mets. They are one-half game back of second-place Philadelphia.
--Bobby Cox's club is 12-17 on the road, while Dusty Baker's squad is 10-10 at home.
--After a rough start to the season, Tim Hudson (4-3, 3.95 ERA) has been outstanding in four of his last five starts. The veteran right-hander threw eight scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-1 win at Arizona.
--Hudson has only faced the Cubs once in his career, throwing a complete game in a 4-2 win at Chicago on August 22nd of last season. The Braves took the money as minus 120 favorites and cashed run-line tickets as well.
--Carlos Zambrano (3-2, 3.53) has a 2-1 record and 4.06 ERA in six lifetime starts against Atlanta. He was the losing pitcher last August when he opposed Hudson in a 4-2 loss, but Zambrano didn't walk a batter and struck out 10 in that outing.
--Zambrano is 1-2 with a 4.06 ERA in five home starts this year. However, the Cubs are 3-2 in those five games.
--Atlanta shortstop Edgar Renteria has enjoyed the most success against Zambrano with 10 hits in 23 career at-bats for a .435 average. Renteria, Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones (4-for-14, .280) have each homered once off Zambrano, but A. Jones is only 2-for-13 (.154) versus the right-hander.
--Although the 'under' has cashed in three of Atlanta's last four road games, the 'over' maintains an outstanding 19-10 record for the Braves on the road.
--The 'under' is 23-22 overall for the Cubs, 12-8 in their home games. They are one of only four teams showing a winning record for the 'under' this season.
--Most sports books have tabbed Chicago as a minus 110 'chalk.' As always, betting shops are holding off on a total until the wind conditions at Wrigley become clear.
**White Sox at Blue Jays**
--Chicago (31-15, +926) has the second-best record and third-best money tally in baseball. However, the White Sox find themselves looking up at the Tigers in the American League Central.
--Toronto (25-21, +278) is in third place in the AL East, 2 1/2 games back of division-leading Boston. The Blue Jays have won six of their last eight home games.
--Freddy Garcia (7-1, 3.92) will get the starting nod from Chicago skipper Ozzie Guillen. The veteran right-hander is 6-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 lifetime starts versus Toronto.
--Chicago has won nine in a row with Garcia on the mound. He is 3-0 with a 4.34 ERA in three road starts. Bettors backing the White Sox in Garcia's starts have a money total of +675, the second-best tally in the majors.
--Ted Lilly (4-4, 4.15) will get the ball for the Blue Jays, who are 15-9 at home this season. Lilly is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA in five home outings.
--Toronto has seen the 'over' go 27-15 overall, 14-7 in its home games.
--The 'over' is 25-19 overall for the White Sox, 11-10 in their road outings.
--The 'over' is 6-3 in Lilly's starts, 8-2 in Garcia's assignments.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--San Francisco RHP Jason Schmidt owns a 12-4 record and 3.87 lifetime ERA against Colorado.
--Since the 'over' hit in Milwaukee LHP Chris Capuano's first start of the year, the 'under' has cashed at a 7-0-2 clip in his last nine starts.
--Philadelphia RHP Cory Lidle has made four starts against the Brewers since the start of last season. The 'under' has prevailed in all four of those spots.
--Arizona has won eight in a row with Brandon Webb on the mound. Webb is an early candidate to be the NL's starter in the All-Star Game, posting a 7-0 record and 2.44 ERA to date. He was sick in his last outing, throwing a four-hit shutout in a 13-0 win against the Braves.
--The 'over' is 4-0 in Cincy LHP Eric Milton's starts.
--The 'over' is 8-1 in Felix Hernandez's last nine starts for the Mariners.
--The 'under' is 7-0-1 in Jeff Francis's last eight starts for the Rockies.
--Say what you want about the Marlins, but there's no doubt that GM Larry Beinfest found some outstanding young talent when he was forced to trade his entire nucleus from last year's squad. For starters, Hanley Ramirez has been nothing short of sensational, batting second in the NL with a .335 average. Another excellent find is tonight's starter, Josh Johnson. The rookie righty is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his four starts since joining the rotation.
--Johnson will be opposed by Pedro Martinez, who is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA in five road assignments. Martinez threw eight scoreless innings in his last start at Dolphins Stadium, fanning 10 and walking none in a 1-0 victory.
--Bettors might have a hard time pulling the trigger on an 'over' wager with Pedro on the mound. Nevertheless, we're obligated to point out Florida's eye-opening numbers in terms of totals. The 'over' is an MLB-best 30-13 for the Marlins, but even more impressive is the 16-3 'over' mark for the Fish at home.
Chipper Jones is hitting .280 with one homer in 14 ABs vs. Carlos Zambrano. (Getty)
--Atlanta (24-23, -92) will wrap up a nine-game road trip with this three-game set at Wrigley Field. The Braves began this trek with back-to-back losses at Arizona, but they have won three of their last four games, including two of three at San Diego.
--Things are getting messy quickly in the Windy City. Chicago (18-28, -1,208) returns home from a nighmare road trip that saw it lose five of six games, including a three-game sweep at Florida. The Cubs are 12 1/2 games off the pace in the National League Central.
--The Braves are in third place in the NL East, 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Mets. They are one-half game back of second-place Philadelphia.
--Bobby Cox's club is 12-17 on the road, while Dusty Baker's squad is 10-10 at home.
--After a rough start to the season, Tim Hudson (4-3, 3.95 ERA) has been outstanding in four of his last five starts. The veteran right-hander threw eight scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-1 win at Arizona.
--Hudson has only faced the Cubs once in his career, throwing a complete game in a 4-2 win at Chicago on August 22nd of last season. The Braves took the money as minus 120 favorites and cashed run-line tickets as well.
--Carlos Zambrano (3-2, 3.53) has a 2-1 record and 4.06 ERA in six lifetime starts against Atlanta. He was the losing pitcher last August when he opposed Hudson in a 4-2 loss, but Zambrano didn't walk a batter and struck out 10 in that outing.
--Zambrano is 1-2 with a 4.06 ERA in five home starts this year. However, the Cubs are 3-2 in those five games.
--Atlanta shortstop Edgar Renteria has enjoyed the most success against Zambrano with 10 hits in 23 career at-bats for a .435 average. Renteria, Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones (4-for-14, .280) have each homered once off Zambrano, but A. Jones is only 2-for-13 (.154) versus the right-hander.
--Although the 'under' has cashed in three of Atlanta's last four road games, the 'over' maintains an outstanding 19-10 record for the Braves on the road.
--The 'under' is 23-22 overall for the Cubs, 12-8 in their home games. They are one of only four teams showing a winning record for the 'under' this season.
--Most sports books have tabbed Chicago as a minus 110 'chalk.' As always, betting shops are holding off on a total until the wind conditions at Wrigley become clear.
**White Sox at Blue Jays**
--Chicago (31-15, +926) has the second-best record and third-best money tally in baseball. However, the White Sox find themselves looking up at the Tigers in the American League Central.
--Toronto (25-21, +278) is in third place in the AL East, 2 1/2 games back of division-leading Boston. The Blue Jays have won six of their last eight home games.
--Freddy Garcia (7-1, 3.92) will get the starting nod from Chicago skipper Ozzie Guillen. The veteran right-hander is 6-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 lifetime starts versus Toronto.
--Chicago has won nine in a row with Garcia on the mound. He is 3-0 with a 4.34 ERA in three road starts. Bettors backing the White Sox in Garcia's starts have a money total of +675, the second-best tally in the majors.
--Ted Lilly (4-4, 4.15) will get the ball for the Blue Jays, who are 15-9 at home this season. Lilly is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA in five home outings.
--Toronto has seen the 'over' go 27-15 overall, 14-7 in its home games.
--The 'over' is 25-19 overall for the White Sox, 11-10 in their road outings.
--The 'over' is 6-3 in Lilly's starts, 8-2 in Garcia's assignments.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--San Francisco RHP Jason Schmidt owns a 12-4 record and 3.87 lifetime ERA against Colorado.
--Since the 'over' hit in Milwaukee LHP Chris Capuano's first start of the year, the 'under' has cashed at a 7-0-2 clip in his last nine starts.
--Philadelphia RHP Cory Lidle has made four starts against the Brewers since the start of last season. The 'under' has prevailed in all four of those spots.
--Arizona has won eight in a row with Brandon Webb on the mound. Webb is an early candidate to be the NL's starter in the All-Star Game, posting a 7-0 record and 2.44 ERA to date. He was sick in his last outing, throwing a four-hit shutout in a 13-0 win against the Braves.
--The 'over' is 4-0 in Cincy LHP Eric Milton's starts.
--The 'over' is 8-1 in Felix Hernandez's last nine starts for the Mariners.
--The 'under' is 7-0-1 in Jeff Francis's last eight starts for the Rockies.
--Say what you want about the Marlins, but there's no doubt that GM Larry Beinfest found some outstanding young talent when he was forced to trade his entire nucleus from last year's squad. For starters, Hanley Ramirez has been nothing short of sensational, batting second in the NL with a .335 average. Another excellent find is tonight's starter, Josh Johnson. The rookie righty is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his four starts since joining the rotation.
--Johnson will be opposed by Pedro Martinez, who is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA in five road assignments. Martinez threw eight scoreless innings in his last start at Dolphins Stadium, fanning 10 and walking none in a 1-0 victory.
--Bettors might have a hard time pulling the trigger on an 'over' wager with Pedro on the mound. Nevertheless, we're obligated to point out Florida's eye-opening numbers in terms of totals. The 'over' is an MLB-best 30-13 for the Marlins, but even more impressive is the 16-3 'over' mark for the Fish at home.