Sport: NBAPick Selection: Chicago Cubs (Dempster) -145
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs 8:05 PM ET
Chicago Cubs (Dempster) -145
**73.3% Cardinals/Cubs ESPN Primetime** The Cardinals were able to rough up Carlos Zambrano on Saturday and grab Game Two of this series. The victory snapped a two-game skid and put a little life into a team that has fallen in a hurry. However, that newfound life will be short lived. Since a five-game winning streak, St. Louis is 8-11 over its last 19 games and it has been the offense that has been consistently quiet. Over those 19 games, it has scored four runs or fewer 11 times while averaging 4.8 rpg. The Cardinals are 4-11 in their last 15 games against a team with a winning record.
Despite the setback, the Cubs still possess the best home record in the National League by a wide margin at 44-17. They had won five of their last six games at home prior to Saturday and there is something on the line. Of the last 13 home series?, Chicago has lost only one of those and it has taken four straight three-game sets with a mark of 2-1. The Cubs are hitting .301 at home while the ERA is at 3.76 both of which have proven valuable. Chicago is 21-9 in its last 30 when their opponent scores five runs or more in their previous game.
The Cardinals should be happy what they have gotten out of Chris Carpenter so far since his return. In two starts, he has allowed only one run but he has yet to go deep into a game. They are bringing him back slowly and that is the smart move as he was limited to 67 and 51 pitches. This is obviously the best offense he will have seen thus far and the big hitters in the Cubs' lineup, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano, combine to hit .309 against Carpenter.
This is one of the best prices you will see at home for the Cubs and Ryan Dempster. Dempster has been solid all season long and that is especially the case at Wrigley Field. He has a 2.93 ERA on the season including 2.77 at home where he also brings in a solid 1.16 WHIP. The Cubs are averaging 6.5 rpg in his home starts and that helps ease some of the pressure for sure. Take away a blowup against the cross town rival White Sox and his ERA actually drops to 2.49. The Cubs are 12-3 in his last 15 home starts. Chicago makes amends tonight. Play Chicago Cubs 2 Units
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