A key series between two National League playoff contenders will start Friday at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs (66-48) host the
Washington Nationals (59-56) as solid home favorites at the sportsbooks.The Cubs
lead the NL Central by two games over the Milwaukee Brewers
http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-whit-merrifield-jersey , while the Nationals are chasing the Atlanta Braves for the league's second
wild-card spot in the NL East. MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -145
favorites (wager $145 to win $100), according to sportsbooks monitored by
OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)MLB betting pick, via OddsShark
computer: 4.6-4.5, Cubs (MLB picks on every game)Check out the OddsShark podcast
on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks
and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Nationals can pay
on the MLB linesWashington was seemingly out of the playoff race until going
10-5 over the team's last 15 games to get back over the .500 mark. The Nationals
were also hoping to gain some ground on the Braves earlier this week but ended
up splitting a four-game set at home, capped by a 6-3 victory on Thursday.The
Nationals will now count on veteran starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (5-2,
3.56 ERA) to help them open their fifth consecutive series with a win. Alex
Brandon/Associated PressThe 31-year-old is coming off a victory against the
Cincinnati Reds last Saturday, allowing two runs on two solo home runs as part
of four hits overall in 5.2 innings. Why the Cubs can pay on the MLB
linesChicago will counter Hellickson with a hot Kyle Hendricks (8-9, 4.07
ERA)
Cheslor Cuthbert Jersey , who will be going for his third straight victory. The Cubs are 4-1 in the previous five starts for the 28-year-old, and he has
given up three runs or less in six of his past seven outings.Known for
performing well at Wrigley, the righty has a 4-6 mark and 3.75 ERA in 12 starts
there this season, with opposing batters hitting .237 against him. Between 2015
and 2017, Kendricks went 15-8 with a 2.56 ERA at Wrigley as well, so home field
has been an advantage for him and his teammates when has been on the mound.Smart
betting pickThese teams have alternated wins and losses in the past 10 meetings,
including last year's NL Division Series matchup. Chicago topped Washington 3-2
despite not having the home-field edge, and this will be the first time they
square off this season.However, the Cubs are 6-3 in the previous nine games
played versus the Nationals at Wrigley
Brian Flynn Jersey , according to the OddsShark MLB Database, and that will be the difference here. MLB betting trendsWashington is 7-16 SU in its last 23
games on the road.The total has gone under in 11 of Washington's last 16 games
on the road.The total has gone under in four of Chicago's last five games.All
MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds
partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to
YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can
also download the free odds tracker app. PHOENIX (AP) — Bryan Mitchell’s strong
return to San Diego’s rotation and a big boost from Franmil Reyes‘ bat put
Arizona in a deeper hole in the NL West.Reyes homered twice and had four RBIs,
Mitchell pitched five effective innings in his return from the DL and the Padres
knocked off the playoff-contending Diamondbacks 6-2 Monday night.“I just tried
to take one pitch at a time and not really let things speed up,” said Mitchell,
who earned his first win since April 12, 2017. “It had been a while so that
first inning was kind of different, but we were able to get out with one run,
limit the damage there. I definitely settled in after that.”Mitchell (1-3) was
sharp in his first start off the DL due to a right elbow impingement
Abraham Almonte Jersey , holding the Diamondbacks to a run on two hits — all in the first inning.Reyes hit a three-run homer off Zack Godley (14-8) in
the second inning and a solo shot off the right-hander in the fourth. Austin
Hedges added a two-run single in the eighth inning for the Padres, who have won
five of seven.Reyes had his first career multihomer game and has homered in five
of the past nine games to extend his hitting streak to nine games.“He looks
really confident in the batter’s box,” Padres manager Andy Reid said. “I can’t
really think of anybody in big league baseball who has as much pop or more pop
than him.”Steven Souza Jr. had a run-scoring single in the first inning and Paul
Goldschmidt an RBI double in the eighth for Arizona. The Diamondbacks were
limited to five hits in their fourth loss in five games, dropping two games
behind Colorado in the NL West.“This is a group of guys that have done it
before. They have done it this year at times,” Diamondbacks manager Torey
Lovullo said. “It obviously hasn’t been as consistent as we have seen it. The
same theme I have been talking about. Grind it out, keep getting after it, stay
with the process. If it is not there for you, hand it off to the next guy.”The
Diamondbacks returned to the desert after a difficult trip to Southern
California. Arizona entered a four-game series with the Dodgers atop the
division and left a game back after Los Angeles won three of four. All three
loses came when the Dodgers rallied late, including Matt Kemp’s two walk-off
hits off Archie Bradley.The Diamondbacks found themselves needing to rally after
Godley walked the first two batters of the second inning and Reyes followed with
a three-run homer to the pool deck in right-center to put San Diego up
3-1.Godley gave up two hits for the second straight start
http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-grimm-jersey , but both were home runs. He allowed four runs and struck out six in five
innings.“I felt like I made really, really good pitches,” Godley said. “I made
two bad pitches on the night. Both of them I paid for.”LOPEZ RECALLEDThe
Diamondbacks recalled RHP Yoan Lopez from Double-A Jackson and transferred 3B
Jake Lamb to the 60-day disabled list. Arizona signed Lopez to an $8.27 million
bonus coming out of Cuba in 2015, but he spent four seasons in the minors and at
one time considered leaving baseball. The 25-year-old was 2-5 with 12 saves and
led Southern League relievers in opponent average at .174. Lamb had
season-ending left shoulder surgery last month.PADRES MOVESSan Diego reinstated
RHP Luis Perdomo (right shoulder) from the 10-day disabled list and RHP Kirby
Yates from the bereavement list. Both will work in the Padres’ bullpen.TRAINER’S
ROOMDiamondbacks: Catcher Alex Avila had a foul ball bounce off the dirt and hit
him in the throat in the third inning, but stayed in the game before being
replaced by a pinch hitter in the seventh.UP NEXTDiamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray has
allowed three runs or less his past five starts heading into Tuesday’s game
against the Padres. San Diego LHP Joey Lucchesi is winless in four career starts
against the Diamondbacks with a 7.71 ERA.
