MLB Baseball
2011-08-01 - Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: MLB Baseball
Monday 1 August 2011 - First Pitch 7:05pm ET
12:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
This is Game 1 of a 4 game series between these two National League Central rivals and it is perhaps a surprise to many that it is the Pittsburgh Pirates (54-52) that are still in contention in the Division while the Chicago Cubs (43-65) look to finish the season in a strong fashion.
Usually the trade deadline is a time for the Pirates to try and build for the future while giving up their bigger pieces, but this year has been different as they look to close the 4.5 game gap to Milwaukee. They brought in Derrek Lee, a former Chicago Cub, and Ryan Ludwick to ensure they can at least post their first winning season since 1992.
Lee is expected to suit up for this first game, while Ludwick's status is a little more unclear.
Pittsburgh lost a little ground on the leaders when being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, although the last game was lost in extra innings. The Pirates send Paul Maholm to the mound in the hope he can continue his dominant performances over the Cubs this season.
Maholm is 6-10 with a 3.16 ERA this season and has given up just 1 run in just under 24 innings pitched. The pitcher beat Chicago in his last start against them on July 10th, but has gone 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 3 starts since then.
Chicago will counter with Carlos Zambrano, a pitcher who has had plenty of success against Pittsburgh in the past. He is 7-1 in 13 career starts against them at PNC Park with a 3.90 ERA and has been backed up by an avergae of 8.02 runs per game.
Zambrano is 7-6 with a 4.59 ERA this season and he has alternated wins and losses in his 3 starts since the All-Star break, his most recent outing being a loss to Milwaukee.
Head to Head
Pittsburgh are 6-3 against the Chicago Cubs in the season series and won the last series between the teams in early July.
The Cubs are just 2-7 in their last 9 games at PNC Park, although they are 7-1 overall against the Pirates in Carlos Zambrano's last 8 starts.
Chicago are 7-23 in their last 30 road games.
Pittsburgh are 20-15 in Game 1's this season, and they are 9-8 when coming in off a loss.
Chicago are 15-21 in Game 1's, but a very poor 2-10 when they have won their last game.
Prediction
Both pitchers going to the mound have enjoyed success against the opponents, but I think it is Paul Maholm who holds the edge as Carlos Zambrano relies on the offense to help out significantly more.
Maholm has not been that successful since the All-Star break, but his pitching has been generally ok and he has really enjoyed his time against the Cubs this season.
The boost to the batting line up of the Pirates since the trade deadline will also help the team out and I think they can get a big win tonight.
The Pick :
Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Chicago Cubs
