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July, 19 2008 7:05pm EST
MONEYLINE: Chicago Cubs -118
LOSS for -2 unit(s)

Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros

Yesterday the Cubs wasted all the good work of Ted Lilly by losing 2-1 at Houston, where the batters Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez were terrible with 0-12! The team have already gave signs of not being at 100% in their last game before the All Star break, when they lost against the Giants by 2-4 and yesterday they have confirmed this tendency. However today they will send to the pitch their ace Carlos Zambrano (2.84 ERA 10-3) who has been very solid during the whole season, especially in his last matches. Zambrano on the road hasn't been as solid as at home with 3.61 ERA and a record of 5-3, but he has been amazing in his last games. Against the Cardinals, he hasn't allowed any run in the 5 innings in which he pitched with 5 strike outs and against Cincinnati, he has only allowed 1 run in 8 innings and with also 5 strike outs. Besides that in the All Star game, Zambrano has only allowed 1 hit in the 2 innings he has pitched. His good form is evident:

"That's probably the best I've seen him in a long time," said Dunn of Zambrano, who has allowed a run and five hits over 14 innings in his last two starts.

So I expect Chicago to continue with good pitching performances today, as the quality today will be there. My doubts are with the pitcher that Houston will use today. Wandy Rodriguez is actually having a reasonable season with 3.48 ERA 4-3 and his numbers are good at home games, with 2.72 ERA and 2-2, but recently his form has been poor. Actually in his last three games he has a record of 6.90 ERA and curiously 1-0, however that is easy to explain, it's only necessary to see the teams they have faced: Washington, Atlanta and LA Dodgers. The first one isn't necessary to talk about its quality (or lack of), but against Atlanta and the Dodgers, these two teams were in bad phases and still he couldn't stop their attack. Zambrano has played against the Astros this season and he had a good performance with 2 runs in 7 innings, with a win by 3-2 against Houston, while Rodriguez hasn't played against the Cubs this season. The fact that the Cubs are currently on a mini slump and that made the moneyline for them to be at a reasonable price today. Sooner or later the Cubs will appear again in a good fashion and I don't think Rodriguez will be capable to continue the poor form of the Cubs batters today. Take the Cubs (-1) in here.