ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cubs ended a successful homestand on a downer with a shutout loss to the Pirates on Sunday, preventing them from a seven-game sweep. That week of games at Wrigley got folks talking again that maybe the Cubbies are a contender in the NL as they were up 4.63 units on the moneyline. They’ll need to improve their play on the road to be taken seriously and a six-game trip starts Tuesday at San Diego. Chicago won just two of nine-games on their previous road trek finishing down 2.97 units and for the season the Cubs are in the black 2.75 units. The under is 5-2-1 in their last eight, however the over was 2-0-1 in a three-game set between these clubs from Apr. 17-19.
San Diego’s revamped roster has scored only six runs in the last three games and has been shutout six times already this season. The starting pitching, a supposed strength of the club, has been shaky with the Pads struggling to get over .500. The Padres dropped the final three of a four-game set with Washington over the weekend down 2.0 units with the over going 3-1. San Diego has been profitable on the over going 24-14-1 for the season and 6-2 in eight games started by James Shields.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Chicago’s Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.11 ERA) posted his fourth quality start of the season in his last outing, holding the Mets to one run over eight innings. He got a no-decision after allowing five hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
Hammel got a no-decision going 6.1 innings with four runs on seven hits in a 5-4 loss to San Diego on Apr. 17. He is 4-3 in 14 career games against the Padres and 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA at Petco Park.
James Shields (5-0, 3.91 ERA) became the first Padres pitcher to start a season 5-0 since 2007 when he defeated Seattle on Wednesday. He held the Mariners to one run on six hits and struck out nine over six innings.
Shields got his second win of the season out-dueling Hammel in Chicago on Apr. 17. He allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings for his first career win over the Cubs in his second start.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“No, we didn’t expect this at all. Those guys who have made starts for us, they’ll be the first to tell you that they don’t think they’re the 11th-best pitching staff in the league. I think we can move up that ladder as quickly as we got there.” – Padres manager Bud Black on the team’s underperforming starting rotation.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Back when Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made his much-anticipated MLB debut James Shields was on the hill. Bryant gets another shot at the man who made him look silly in that first game. Bryant fanned each of his first three trips to the plate against Shields and the Padres on Apr. 17 in a game San Diego won in comeback fashion. Shields has made many hitters look uncomfortable at the plate in his 11 years in the bigs and he wasn’t going to be shown up by the Cubs rookie. Sometimes a pitcher has your number and that’s the case here. Bryant, who played collegiately at the University of San Diego, will no doubt have a case of the nerves in a return home, just like when he made his first big league start. And going against Shields again won’t help. Look for the Padres’ ace to keep the youngster in check again when they meet on Tuesday.
PROP TALK
San Diego’s Justin Upton has made Petco Park look small in his first season as the Padres left fielder. Upton has been the only constant in what’s been an erratic offensive season so far for San Diego. The Pads got off to a good start with their revamped lineup but have since faltered during a 2-5 stretch, but Upton has done all he can to keep the offense ignited. Upton had three hits Sunday, including a pair of home runs giving him a team-high 10 for the season with eight of those coming at Petco Park. He’s batting .462 over his last three games and .375 at Petco this season with a 1.189 OPS. Upton looks locked in and will get a few hits off Jason Hammel Tuesday to spark San Diego’s stagnant offense.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Cubs have been as inconsistent as the Padres this season as both teams adjust to changed rosters and elevated expectations. Chicago is coming off a successful homestand that included a four-game sweep of the East-leading Mets but their six-game win streak was halted Sunday in a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh. “How can I possibly be upset right now? It’s impossible. We played well again today,” manager Joe Maddon said after Sunday’s game. Improved relief pitching has played a large role in Chicago’s recent success and getting Kris Bryant back in the lineup will help, he was removed from the lineup early Sunday.
It’s hard to imagine the Padres struggling as much as they have with the talent on that club. Let’s just chalk that up to a bunch of new faces in the clubhouse getting used to each other. Now that we are a quarter of the way through the season they better start showing signs or manager Bud Black could be the next managerial casualty. We like their chances with James Shields, who’s been a stopper much of his career, on the hill. He’ll be called on to stop San Diego’s three-game slide and like the big game hurler he is, Shields will deliver.
San Diego 6, Chicago 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Chicago Cubs versus the San Diego Padres will commence Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at PETCO Park. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
