Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds & Picks: July 30th 2009

Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros
Chicago Cubs (-200 betting odds)
Thu July 30th 2009 2:20p
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Russ Ortiz’ 13th start of the season is a huge one for Houston as its bullpen has been used and abused throughout this series. He got pounded his last time out against the NY Mets getting lit up for five hits and six ER’s through just 4.1 innings of the 10-3 home loss. If his L/3 starts are any indicator, Ortiz is running out of gas as he went 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA & 1.80 WHIP allowing 16 hits and 12 ER’s through just 13.1 total innings of work. His longest outing in his L/4 starts is just six innings, and even that won’t be good enough in this spot considering how bad of shape his clubs bullpen’s in. He’s already faced the Cubs twice this season, and in his career, he’s 4-6 with a 5.09 ERA in 13 starts vs. Chicago.

Opposing Houston’s veteran will be rookie Kevin Hart who will be making his fourth start of the season. Originally thought to be headed back to Triple-A with the return of Ryan Dempster, the righty has stuck on the big league roster due to Ted Lilly’s injury. The righty comes off the best effort of his young career his last time out against Cincinnati where he limited the Reds to five hits and one run with a K/BB ratio of 4/1 through six innings of the Cubs 5-3 home victory. He said he found his groove in the start and looks forward to utilizing all his pitches once again in this outing.

Houston is in really bad shape right now. Players are dropping like flies and the bullpen has been severely taxed throughout this series. Chicago is white hot and not to be faded right now. They’re hitting everything in sight and playing with extreme confidence. With each teams mind frames on completely opposite sides of the spectrum, I recommend a nice sized play on Chicago to win the series this afternoon regardless of the amount of chalk forced to eat. Cubs roll and keep the heat on St. Louis!!!