SAN DIEGO PADRES @ CHICAGO CUBS
Baseball : United States : MLB Regular Season
Thursday, August 19th 2010 - Start 2:20PM ET
(7:20PM GMT)

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SAN DIEGO PADRES

The Padres registered their 4th win on the trot yesterday, increasing their lead to 6 games in the NL West. The pitching for the Padres is their strongest at the moment, with the team ERA an impressive 3.18 - The best in the MLB by a long way. The current form is amazing too, with SD having allowed just 2 runs or less in 9 of their last 13.

San Diego send Mat Latos to the mound and his numbers are very impressive. He has a 2.32ERA and 0.99 WHIP for the season over 22 starts, and is being discussed as a Cy Young candidate. He has also given up just 2 runs or less in 11 straight starts, as well as 17 of his last 18 outings. He had one horrendous game against Florida, but if you discount that, his ERA drops to 1.89! Absolutely clutch.

CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs send Carlos Zambrano to the hill, and he's been a bit of a carwreck this season. After a bad start, he got suspended from the team and though he's not been awful, he has struggled on his starts. He picked up a win against St. Louis but I feel that was a good blip in an otherwise bad season. Zambrano is now just 4-8 in his last 12, including 2-5 at home.

The Cubs have traded hitter Lee, and now have a team that seriously lacks offensive power. They might be at home here but thats hardly an advantage to them anymore. The Cubs home record stands at 27-35 and their current form at Wrigley Field is even worse, going 4-17 in their last 21 games at home, including 6 straight losses!!

BETTING VERDICT

Chicago has been outscored 15-6 in the first 3 games of this series and that slump looks set to continue. Take the Padres.

The Pick :

San Diego Padres to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the San Diego Padres @ 1.65 (Pinnacle) - MAIN BET