Chicago Cubs (84-66) at Tampa Bay (73-78)
When: Wednesday, September 20th 2017
Where: Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, FL
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: WGN, FSN Sun
Opening Odds: Chicago -125/8
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet MLB Baseball odds and props!
The Chicago Cubs appear to be ready for the postseason with victories in their last seven games and will look to sweep a two-game interleague series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Chicago reduced its magic number to clinch the National League Central to nine with a 2-1 win over the fading Rays on Tuesday, as Mike Montgomery and three relievers combined on a one-hitter. Chicago closer Wade Davis converted his 32nd save in as many opportunities Tuesday, extending his franchise record. According to reports, starter Jake Arrieta will pitch Thursday against Milwaukee – his first action since straining his right hamstring on September 4th. Left-hander Jon Lester will try to keep the Rays’ offense cold as he battles one of his former American League East foes for the first time since 2014. Brad Miller’s solo homer was the only hit Tuesday for the Rays, who have lost eight of their last 11 and scored two or fewer runs in seven of their last 12. The Cubs lead the NL Central by 3.5 games over Milwaukee, while the Rays are nearing elimination from the American League playoff race, sitting five games behind Minnesota for the second wild card.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30 ERA) | Rays – Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25)
Lester has been up and down all season and right now, he’s up with three consecutive victories. The veteran lefty has struggled with his command somewhat in his last two starts, walking four each time out, but has limited the damage to three runs over 12 innings. Lester is 13-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 29 starts against the Rays – with most of them during his time in Boston. Rays 3B Evan Longoria has struck out 20 times in 66 plate appearances against Lester.
Snell has also won his last three decisions, and the Rays have won six of his last eight starts. He received a no-decision in his latest outing against the New York Yankees on September 12th, allowing one run and two hits over five innings. Snell faced the Cubs on July 5th at Wrigley Field and threw five scoreless innings in a no-decision.
[ad id=’36449′]
The Cubs are on a roll right now and the Rays just simply can not hit, especially at home. I don’t have much confidence this year in Lester, but he should be able to get the job done here and lead the Cubs to their eighth straight victory.
Pick: Cubs -130
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 8-0 in their last 8 vs. American League East.
- Cubs are 7-0 in their last 7 overall.
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 5-0 in their last 5 Wednesday games.
- Cubs are 11-1 in their last 12 interleague games.
- Cubs are 21-6 in their last 27 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 21-6 in their last 27 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 games following a win.
- Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 21-7 in their last 28 interleague road games.
- Cubs are 14-5 in their last 19 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 20-9 in their last 29 road games.
- Cubs are 15-7 in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 35-17 in their last 52 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts with 6 days of rest.
- Cubs are 6-1 in Lester’s last 7 road starts.
- Cubs are 6-1 in Lester’s last 7 Wednesday starts.
- Cubs are 6-1 in Lester’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 25-5 in Lester’s last 30 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 13-3 in Lester’s last 16 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 19-7 in Lester’s last 26 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 19-7 in Lester’s last 26 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 7-3 in Lester’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Cubs are 7-3 in Lester’s last 10 interleague starts.
- Cubs are 39-18 in Lester’s last 57 starts.
- Rays are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 6-13 in their last 19 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 4-9 in their last 13 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 2-7 in their last 9 during game 2 of a series.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 games on astroturf.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 home games.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 1-5 in their last 6 Wednesday games.
- Rays are 1-6 in their last 7 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 1-7 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 1-8 in their last 9 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Rays are 0-6 in their last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 0-4 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 6-1 in Snell’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 6-2 in Snell’s last 8 starts.
- Rays are 0-7 in Snell’s last 7 Wednesday starts.
- Rays are 0-4 in Snell’s last 4 interleague starts.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Cubs last 5 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 Wednesday games.
- Over is 10-3-1 in Cubs last 14 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3-1 in Cubs last 13 on astroturf.
- Over is 8-3 in Cubs last 11 vs. American League East.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Cubs last 15 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Cubs last 15 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 22-10-1 in Cubs last 33 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 13-6-2 in Cubs last 21 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts overall.
- Over is 7-1 in Lester’s last 8 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 road starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Lester’s last 12 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 5-0 in Rays last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 5-0 in Rays last 5 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 interleague home games.
- Under is 8-1 in Rays last 9 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-1 in Rays last 8 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 10-3 in Rays last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 22-7 in Rays last 29 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 19-7 in Rays last 26 home games.
- Under is 28-11-1 in Rays last 40 games following a loss.
- Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 interleague games.
- Under is 20-8 in Rays last 28 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 19-8 in Rays last 27 on astroturf.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Snell’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 Wednesday starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 interleague starts.
- Under is 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Snell’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 home starts.
- Over is 10-3 in Snell’s last 13 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 7-3-1 in Snell’s last 11 starts overall.
