Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Odds & Pick: May 26th 2010

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Free Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -104 odds
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We get a solid number with the Dodgers on Wednesday. They dropped the opener of this series last night as Ryan Dempster completely shut down the offense by tossing eight innings of shutout ball and ruining another solid performance from Clayton Kershaw. The loss was the second straight for Los Angeles but it is certainly no time for panic as prior to this, it had won 14 of its previous 16 games so after a slow start, the Dodgers are right back in the thick of things. They trail the surprising Padres by just two games and could definitely get the winning streak going again. The Cubs are playing much better as well, going 7-2 over their last nine games. The pitching has been the backbone as the offense continues to struggle. Chicago has scored more than five runs only once during this recent stretch and going back further it has averaged a mere 3.85 rpg over its last 20 games. Catching elite pitchers in the underdog role is always a great situation and it is even better when that pitcher struggled and has once again found his groove. That often leads to value and that is the case tonight with Chad Billingsley. He started the season with three straight non-quality starts thus producing a 7.07 ERA to begin the season. He has now allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, posting a 2.39 ERA over those six trips. That has lowered his ERA to 3.66 on the season and now faces a Cubs team where he has a 3.54 ERA in five career starts including a 2.77 ERA in three starts at Wrigley Field. He is opposed by Tom Gorzelanny who is pitching extremely well also. He has a 3.09 ERA on the season but the Cubs are just 2-6 in his eight starts as he has gotten little run support from the anemic offense. Chicago is just 1-3 in his four home starts as he has posted a 4.50 ERA in those games. The Cubs are just 5-14 in their last 19 games against solid starters whose WHIP is between 1.25 and 1.35. 3* Los Angeles Dodgers