MLB gambling excitement and anticipation continues to build as the playoff race continues with the San Diego Padres hosting the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday Night. Game time is set for 10:05 PM. Be sure and check SBG for the side and total odds.
Up and Down Padres
San Diego has been jockeying with the San Francisco Giants for the lead in the National League West Division and with the Atlanta Braves for the National League wild card spot. They have been plagued by inconsistent play as they went 5-5 from September 17-27 with just 3 of those 10 games going over the total. San Diego has a MLB gambling record of 44-34 at home this year.
Feast or Famine
Few teams in baseball gambling operate in such extremes as the San Diego Padres, who ranked 21st in the major leagues for run production and 2nd for staff earned run average. The Padres rely upon Adrian Gonzalez for the bulk of their offense as he is hitting .301 with 32 doubles, 30 home runs, and 98 runs batted in. Nobody else on the team is even close to those numbers and that has put an added burden on Gonzalez, who is often pitched around by opposing teams.
Spoiler?
The Cubs are merely playing out the string and have a losing record of 36-39 on the road. Chicago did prove that they could play the role of spoiler however as they won the first game of this series 1-0 as they exploited the weak San Diego hitting attack. The Cubs rank 18th in the majors for run production and 25th for staff earned run average.
Pitching Matchup
Randy Wells is scheduled to take the mound for the Cubs while Chris Young is set to start for San Diego.
Young has only 15 innings of work this year with a 1-0 record and a 1.20 earned run average as he returned to the rotation after suffering a strained right shoulder. The right hander has not faced the Cubs this year.
Wells has a baseball gambling record of 8-13 this year with a 4.28 earned run average. He has a 1.29 ERA against the Padres this year and has been stellar in his last 2 outings with just 1 earned run allowed in 15.2 innings of work. He allowed 1 earned run in 7 innings against San Diego on August 17.