Tampa Bay (43-41) at Chicago Cubs (41-41)
When: Tuesday, July 4th 2017
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 2:20 ET | TV: FSN Sun, WGN
Opening Odds: Chicago -141
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!
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden will go up against his former team for the first time when he hosts the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday night, July 4th. Maddon managed the Rays from 2006-14 and led Tampa Bay to the 2008 World Series before leaving for Chicago and helping the Cubs break their 108-year championship drought last season. Chicago’s starting pitching has not been very good this season, but Tuesday’s starter, left-hander Jon Lester, has been the most reliable of the bunch. Rumor has it, that the Cubs want to go after Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer, who starts tonight for the Rays. The back-end of the bullpen has been reliable, as Chicago is 35-1 when leading entering the ninth inning, with closer Wade Davis converting all 16 save chances this season and 22 straight dating to last September. The Cubs, who have played 17 of their last 20 games on the road, will enjoy the next six at home going into the All-Star break. Chicago is 22-16 at home compared with 19-25 on the road. The Rays are wrapping up an eight-game road trip and have split the first six contests. Tampa Bay is second in the majors with 128 home runs and have hit back-to-back homers a franchise record 11 times this season – most in the major. Archer, who was in the Cubs’ minor-league system in 2009 and 2010, will make his 18th start of the season.
Pitchers: Rays – Chris Archer (6-5, 3.92 ERA) | Cubs – Jon Lester (5-4, 3.69)
Archer allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings in a 4-0 defeat at Pittsburgh last time out. He has pitched at least six innings in eight straight starts and 12 of his last 13. Archer has faced the Cubs only once, in 2014, and allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings in a no-decision.
Lester is on a roll with four straight quality starts with the Cubs winning all four games. He limited the Washington Nationals to just one run and three hits over six solid innings last time out, striking out seven. Lester saw plenty of Tampa Bay while he was pitching for Boston and is 13-9 with a 4.08 ERA in 28 starts against them, most recently in 2014.
[ad id=’36449′]
It’s hard to bet the Cubs this year, especially as a favorite. They have been killing bettors all season. Lester is their top starter right now, but he’s far from perfect. Look for Archer to be a little more focused than usual going up against his former skipper. I like the Rays in this one today. They have won five of six against the Cubs.
Pick: Rays +130
W/L TRENDS
| Tampa Bay |
- Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 10-4 in their last 14 interleague games.
- Rays are 5-2 in their last 7 games following an off day.
- Rays are 26-54 in their last 80 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Rays are 4-9 in their last 13 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Rays are 4-0 in Archer’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Rays are 5-2 in Archer’s last 7 starts.
- Rays are 7-3 in Archer’s last 10 interleague starts.
- Rays are 8-17 in Archer’s last 25 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Rays are 8-17 in Archer’s last 25 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 5-12 in Archer’s last 17 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 1-4 in Archer’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Rays are 0-4 in Archer’s last 4 Tuesday starts.
|
| Chi. Cubs |
- Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 21-8 in their last 29 games following an off day.
- Cubs are 42-18 in their last 60 Tuesday games.
- Cubs are 20-9 in their last 29 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 35-16 in their last 51 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Cubs are 84-39 in their last 123 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 49-23 in their last 72 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Cubs are 109-53 in their last 162 home games.
- Cubs are 8-17 in their last 25 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague home games.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. American League East.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague games.
- Cubs are 0-5 in their last 5 games following a win.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 8-1 in Lester’s last 9 Tuesday starts.
- Cubs are 11-2 in Lester’s last 13 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 10-2 in Lester’s last 12 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 22-5 in Lester’s last 27 home starts.
- Cubs are 12-3 in Lester’s last 15 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 11-3 in Lester’s last 14 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 17-5 in Lester’s last 22 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 6-2 in Lester’s last 8 interleague starts.
- Cubs are 13-5 in Lester’s last 18 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Cubs are 36-15 in Lester’s last 51 starts.
- Cubs are 36-15 in Lester’s last 51 starts on grass.
- Cubs are 14-6 in Lester’s last 20 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 22-10 in Lester’s last 32 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Cubs are 1-4 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
|
OU TRENDS
| Tampa Bay |
- Over is 5-0 in Rays last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 7-0 in Rays last 7 interleague road games.
- Under is 8-1 in Rays last 9 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Rays last 8 road games.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Rays last 8 on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Rays last 6 overall.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Rays last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Rays last 6 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 11-3 in Rays last 14 games following an off day.
- Under is 9-3-1 in Rays last 13 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 19-7 in Rays last 26 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 19-7 in Rays last 26 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Rays last 11 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 29-13 in Rays last 42 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 7-1 in Archer’s last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 12-2 in Archer’s last 14 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 interleague starts.
- Over is 5-2 in Archer’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 22-9-1 in Archer’s last 32 starts on grass.
- Over is 24-11-1 in Archer’s last 36 road starts.
|
| Chi. Cubs |
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-0 in Cubs last 8 games following a win.
- Under is 5-0 in Cubs last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-1-1 in Cubs last 11 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 home games.
- Under is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-2 in Cubs last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 24-7 in Cubs last 31 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 games following an off day.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 interleague games.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 vs. American League East.
- Under is 27-10 in Cubs last 37 on grass.
- Under is 27-10 in Cubs last 37 overall.
- Under is 28-11-4 in Cubs last 43 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 36-17-5 in Cubs last 58 interleague home games.
- Under is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Lester’s last 9 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 18-5-1 in Lester’s last 24 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Lester’s last 26 home starts.
- Under is 8-3 in Lester’s last 11 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 30-13-2 in Lester’s last 45 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
|
HEAD TO HEAD
- Rays are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Chicago.
|
CLICK HERE TO BET MLB BASEBALL ODDS AND PROPS
