Chicago Cubs (11-9) at Cleveland (12-9)
When: Wednesday, April 25th 2018
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: NBCS Chicago, SportsTime Ohio
Opening Odds: Cleveland -130/8
The Chicago Cubs World Series Championship two years ago went through Progressive Field in Cleveland, and they returned to the scene on Tuesday with a resounding victory in the opener of a brief two-game set. Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber, who broke-out in that postseason, homered twice on Tuesday to propel the Cubs to a 10-3 win and is now 15-for-30 with three homers, a double and a triple in seven games at Cleveland. The Cubs have climbed to within two games of first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central with wins in four of their last five games and should see the return of slugger Kris Bryant, who left Sunday’s game in Colorado after being hit in the helmet with a pitch and sat out the series opener. Javier Baez (15-for-35, three homers, 13 RBIs) and Albert Almora Jr. (13-for-32, homer, 5 RBIs) are riding seven-game hitting streaks for Chicago. Tuesday’s loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Indians, who continue to struggle offensively. Cleveland ranks 13th in the American League in scoring runs as Francisco Lindor (.218) and Edwin Encarnacion (.154) are off to very slow starts. Lefty Jon Lester will take the mound for the Cubs opposite righty Trevor Bauer.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jon Lester (2-0, 3.10 ERA) | Indians – Trevor Bauer (1-2, 2.67)
Lester has been inconsistent of late, allowing one unearned run and two hits, while striking out seven against the Cardinals over six innings on Thursday. He was hit hard by Pittsburgh in his previous start, but was terrific on April 5th against Milwaukee, pitching six shutout innings. Lester is 4-0 with a 3.72 ERA in eight starts in Cleveland, where he pitched three innings of relief in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
Bauer has three quality starts in his last four outings, allowing three runs or less, but only has one victory to show for it. Bauer boasts 27 strikeouts in 27 innings and generated 14 swinging strikes in a loss at Baltimore on Friday. Bauer faced the Cubs in the 2015 regular season and allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings, but went 0-2 against them in the World Series.
The Cubs are getting hot and should have Bryant back in the lineup Wednesday. Cleveland has lost their last eight interleague games in which Bauer starts. Look for a low scoring Cubs victory.
Pick: Cubs +115
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. American League Central.
- Cubs are 12-2 in their last 14 interleague games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Cubs are 22-8 in their last 30 interleague road games.
- Cubs are 19-7 in their last 26 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 21-8 in their last 29 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 35-16 in their last 51 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 37-17 in their last 54 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 3-12 in their last 15 games following a win.
- Cubs are 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Cubs are 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 Wednesday starts.
- Cubs are 8-3 in Lester’s last 11 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 39-17 in Lester’s last 56 starts on grass.
- Cubs are 9-4 in Lester’s last 13 road starts.
- Cubs are 39-18 in Lester’s last 57 starts.
- Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
- Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Indians are 46-15 in their last 61 games on grass.
- Indians are 39-13 in their last 52 home games.
- Indians are 47-16 in their last 63 overall.
- Indians are 20-8 in their last 28 during game 2 of a series.
- Indians are 7-3 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Indians are 9-4 in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 40-18 in their last 58 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Indians are 38-18 in their last 56 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Indians are 39-19 in their last 58 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Indians are 4-10 in their last 14 interleague home games.
- Indians are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. National League Central.
- Indians are 6-18 in their last 24 interleague games.
- Indians are 2-7 in their last 9 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 2-12 in their last 14 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 1-7 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 5-1 in Bauer’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 4-1 in Bauer’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 16-6 in Bauer’s last 22 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Indians are 8-3 in Bauer’s last 11 home starts.
- Indians are 5-2 in Bauer’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 3-7 in Bauer’s last 10 Wednesday starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Bauer’s last 5 starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Bauer’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Indians are 0-4 in Bauer’s last 4 starts vs. National League Central.
- Indians are 0-8 in Bauer’s last 8 interleague starts.
- Over is 5-0 in Cubs last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Cubs last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 on grass.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 15-6 in Cubs last 21 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Cubs last 13 interleague road games.
- Over is 11-5-1 in Cubs last 17 interleague games.
- Under is 25-12-2 in Cubs last 39 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 Wednesday starts.
- Over is 6-0 in Lester’s last 6 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
- Over is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 10-2 in Lester’s last 12 starts on grass.
- Over is 13-3 in Lester’s last 16 starts overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 road starts.
- Over is 7-3 in Lester’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Indians last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-0 in Indians last 7 games following a loss.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Indians last 4 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0 in Indians last 4 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Indians last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Indians last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 interleague home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 7-2 in Indians last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Indians last 21 Wednesday games.
- Over is 6-2 in Indians last 8 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 12-4 in Indians last 16 overall.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Indians last 9 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4 in Indians last 14 on grass.
- Under is 5-2 in Indians last 7 interleague home games.
- Under is 19-8-1 in Indians last 28 home games.
- Under is 45-22-5 in Indians last 72 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 6-0 in Bauer’s last 6 Wednesday starts.
- Under is 7-0-1 in Bauer’s last 8 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 4-0 in Bauer’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-0 in Bauer’s last 8 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Bauer’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Bauer’s last 5 interleague starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Bauer’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2-2 in Bauer’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 10-4-3 in Bauer’s last 17 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 9-4-2 in Bauer’s last 15 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Bauer’s last 14 home starts.
- Under is 11-5-2 in Bauer’s last 18 starts on grass.
- Under is 11-5-2 in Bauer’s last 18 starts overall.
- Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Cleveland.
- Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
