MLB Baseball
2012-04-09 - Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Monday 9 April 2012 - First Pitch 7pm ET
Midnight (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Milwaukee Brewers (1-2) begun their lives without Prince Fielder with a 2-1 series defeat to the reigning World Series winners, the St Louis Cardinals. They will be looking to bounce back from that series defeat as they face the Chicago Cubs (1-2) who lost their opening series to the Washington Nationals.
Ryan Braun is going to get his first taste of what life is like for someone who allegedly failed a banned substance test. Braun was subsequently proven to have had his test ruled out, but the reigning MVP figures to get a poor reception wherever he plays on the road. Braun has played well here at Wrigley Field in his career and will be looking to improve those numbers and silence the crowd where possible.
Shaun Marcum will be given the ball for the Brewers as he looks to build on his 2011 season when he finished 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA. However, he was more impressive on the road, finishing with a 8-3 record and a Major League best 2.21 ERA on the road.
Marcum pitched twice against the Cubs last season, giving up just 3 earned runs in those games as the Brewers won both.
Chicago won yesterday against Washington to ensure their first win was on the board and they will give the ball to Chris Volstad, signed from Miami in the off-season, to continue a positive starting pitching for the Cubs. The starters have a 1.61 ERA in the first 3 games of the season for Chicago, but the bullpen has really struggled to maintain that form.
Volstad finished with a 5-13 record for the Florida Marlins last season with a 4.89 ERA. He will have some confidence from the fact that his 1.71 ERA against the Milwaukee Brewers is the best against any team he has faced more than once.
The pitcher faced the Brewers twice last season, giving up 4 earned runs in those 2 meetings, and his team have finished 1-3 in 4 games against Milwaukee in his career.
Head to Head
Milwaukee won the season series between the teams 10-6 last season, the first time they have done so since the 2005 season.
However, they finished just 2-5 here at Wrigley Field.
Other Interesting Trends
Chicago are 4-9 in their last 13 games against a right handed pitcher.
Milwaukee are 16-6 in their last 22 games as the road favourite.
They are 6-1 in their last 7 road games as the favourite and Shaun Marcum on the mound.
Prediction
I am going to back the Milwaukee Brewers to win this game on the run line for the following reasons:
First, Chicago's bullpen has really struggled in the first 3 games this season, ruining the good starts made by the starting pitchers.
Second, Milwaukee have the pitching edge tonight, while Chris Volstad could be a little nervous at making his debut in such an historic ballpark.
Third, both the Brewers wins here last season came by at least 2 runs.
The Pick :
Chicago Cubs 3-6 Milwaukee Brewers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Milwaukee Brewers - 1.5 Runs @ 2.25
