San Diego (46-50) at Chicago Cubs (52-44)
When: Friday, July 19th, 2019
Where: Wrigley Field,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 2:20 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Chicago -150
Two National League squads going in opposite directions will begin a three-game weekend series at Wrigley Field on Friday as the San Diego Padres visit the Chicago Cubs. San Diego won the last three games prior to the All-Star Break at NL-leading Los Angeles, but have come out slow in the second half by going 1-5 including Thursday’s 4-3 loss at Miami. The loss has moved the Padres back into last place in the NL West – 16.5 games behind the Dodgers – but are only 3.5 out of a wild card spot. Rookie sensation Fernando Tatis, Jr. had a terrible series against the Marlins, committing three errors while going 1-for-13 at the plate. First baseman Eric Hosmer has done his part by collecting six hits in his last four games and needs two RBI to reach 700 in his career. The Cubs have widened the gap in the NL Central by going 5-1 since the All-Star Break including a 5-2 over Cincinnati on Wednesday, as Kris Bryant smacked his 20th homer of the season. Bryant is 14-for-33 with four homers, five RBI and 11 runs scored in his last nine games. The teams will meet for the first time in 2019 after the Cubs took five of seven from the Padres last season.
Pitchers: Padres – Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.04 ERA) | Cubs – Jon Lester (9-6, 3.74)
This will be Eric Lauer’s first second half start and the first half ended on a good note despite not earning a win over his last five outings. Lack of run support has been the latest issue, as Lauer has a 1.59 ERA in his last three turns against the Pirates, Cardinals, and Dodgers. Lauer’s lone meeting with the Cubs was last season and he allowed five runs on as many hits in two innings of a 7-4 loss.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Jon Lester has been cruising along with the Cubs winning four of his last five starts and he earned his ninth victory of the season last time out against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs in 6.2 innings of a 10-4 victory. Lester, who is 6-2 at Wrigley Field this season, is 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres.
I know that Lester and the Cubs are better than Lauer and the Padres, but I’m taking a shot with the underdog in this one. Lauer has been pretty decent lately and the Cubs do not hit lefties very well. In fact, they are batting .230 for the season against southpaws, .215 at home, and .143 in their last 10 games. Lester is beatable and I think the Padres get him in the opener.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 94-64 +1983 units on the season after an 8-3 run!
Pick: Padres +137
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BETTING TRENDS:
Padres are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Padres are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Padres are 6-2 in their last 8 Friday games.
Padres are 17-37 in their last 54 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Padres are 15-40 in their last 55 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Padres are 2-7 in their last 9 games following a loss.
Padres are 2-8 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Padres are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
Padres are 1-5 in their last 6 games on grass.
Padres are 0-4 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Padres are 6-1 in Lauer’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Padres are 5-1 in Lauer’s last 6 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Padres are 9-3 in Lauer’s last 12 starts during game 1 of a series.
Padres are 8-3 in Lauer’s last 11 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Padres are 3-8 in Lauer’s last 11 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 home games.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.
Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 games following an off day.
Cubs are 52-18 in their last 70 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Cubs are 3-7 in their last 10 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 Friday games.
Cubs are 3-8 in their last 11 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Cubs are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. National League West.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 24-4 in Lester’s last 28 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Cubs are 13-3 in Lester’s last 16 Friday starts.
Cubs are 42-10 in Lester’s last 52 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Cubs are 44-15 in Lester’s last 59 home starts.
Cubs are 38-14 in Lester’s last 52 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 13-5 in Lester’s last 18 starts with 5 days of rest.
Cubs are 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 36-15 in Lester’s last 51 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 40-18 in Lester’s last 58 starts on grass.
Cubs are 35-16 in Lester’s last 51 starts.
Cubs are 2-5 in Lester’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 0-4 in Lester’s last 4 starts vs. National League West.
Under is 4-0 in Padres last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Padres last 4 Friday games.
Under is 4-0 in Padres last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Padres last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 7-1 in Padres last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-1 in Padres last 7 road games.
Under is 8-2 in Padres last 10 overall.
Under is 8-2 in Padres last 10 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Padres last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 12-3-3 in Padres last 18 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Under is 4-1 in Padres last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Padres last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2-1 in Padres last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 14-6-4 in Padres last 24 games following a loss.
Under is 5-0-2 in Lauer’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Lauer’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-1-1 in Lauer’s last 7 Friday starts.
Under is 4-1 in Lauer’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Lauer’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 7-2-2 in Lauer’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 8-3-2 in Lauer’s last 13 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-2-2 in Lauer’s last 9 road starts.
Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 games following an off day.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 8-2-1 in Cubs last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 Friday games.
Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 on grass.
Under is 8-3 in Cubs last 11 home games.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 7-3-1 in Cubs last 11 games following a win.
Under is 9-4-2 in Cubs last 15 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 3-0-1 in Lester’s last 4 Friday starts.
Over is 13-3-1 in Lester’s last 17 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Lester’s last 6 home starts.
Over is 19-5-2 in Lester’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 7-2-1 in Lester’s last 10 starts on grass.
Over is 7-2-1 in Lester’s last 10 starts overall.
Over is 15-5-2 in Lester’s last 22 starts with 5 days of rest.
Over is 18-7-1 in Lester’s last 26 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 22-10 in Lester’s last 32 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. Padres.
Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Chicago.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Padres are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings.
