MILWAUKEE BREWERS @ CHICAGO CUBS
Baseball : North America : MLB
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011, 8:05PM US
(1:05PM GMT)

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PREVIEW

The Milwaukee Brewers lost yesterday 5-2 but I feel this is an excellent spot for them to come back as they look to clinch their division. They are 5.5 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals now and need 4 more wins to get the job done.

The Cubs will go with Randy Wells tonight. Wells is 7-4 with a 4.93ERA and comes into this having allowed 5 runs in just 4 innings against the Cincinnati Reds. Prior to that, he had done well for about 3-4 games but a look at his overall home record suggests a pitcher that is not as dominant as he should be. Certainly, his ERA is nothing to write home about.

Wells has not done well against the Miwaukee Brewers, going 2-3 against them in 10 appearances, 8 of which were starts. In that time, he has a 4.53ERA against them. Now here's the worrying bit: Wells has started twice at home against the Brewers and has been tonked about to the tune of a 7.52ERA!

The Milwaukee Brewers will send out Shawn Marcum tonight. Marcum is 12-7 so far with a 3.40ERA and is looking to bounce back from poor performances in his last 2 matches where he allowed 5 runs each.

Marcum tossed 6 great outings prior to those poor performances, both of which came at home. Funnily, Marcum has a better road record than home, which is clear when you consider he has a 2.31ERA when pitching away from home.

TEAM STATS

Milwaukee Brewers
Overall 90-64, Streak L1

Chicago Cubs
Overall 68-86, Streak W1

BETTING VERDICT

Yeserdays poor offensive performance was a rare one by the Brewers, who hammered home 24 runs in their 3 game series against the Reds before they came to Chicago. I expect them to bounce right back tonight and the price looks just about right on the visitors.

The Pick :

Milwaukee Brewers to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Milwaukee Brewers to win @ 1.70 (Pinnacle)