Chi Cubs (30-43) AT Chi White Sox (36-39)
June 22, 2011 at 8:10 PM EST
Opening Moneyline: CWS -190, CUB +170
Current Moneyline: CWS -185, CUB +159
Opening Total: 8.5
Current Total: 8.5
SP: Cubs- Doug Davis, White Sox- Jake Peavy
It’s been anything but an injury-free year for Jake Peavy, who started the season on the DL and then after five starts ended up back on the DL with a groin strain.
Since he was acquired by the White Sox in 2009, Peavy has gone 12-7 with a 4.21 ERA. Peavy came at the cost of two seasons and $33 Million. Peavy closed out last season in impressive form, striking out 71 hitters against 13 walks in 78 1/3rds innings over 12 starts, allowing only 30 runs.
His ERA wasn’t great last year at 4.63, but it was under 3.00 in 2008 (2.85 exactly), when he went 10-11. His PECOTA projection for this season is for a 12-7 record with a 3.24 ERA. In his 10 starts against the Cubs, he is 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA. In 2010, he struck out 14 batters in 14 innings and went 2-0.
Game One went to the Cubs 6-3 and Game Two went to the White Sox 3-2, so this game will decide the series. The White Sox have won 17 consecutive interleague series and they have gone 12-5 against the Cubs.
The Cubs are sending Doug Davis to the mound. Davis is 1-5 on the year with a 4.95 ERA and he gave up 1 run and 3 hits in 7 1/3rds innings of a 3-1 win over the New York Yankees on Friday.
“I’m happy with the way I threw and happy I got my first win out of the way as a Cub,” Davis said.
In his 5 starts against the White Sox, he has gone 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA. Davis wasn’t particularly good last season, either, when his WHIP was over 2, at 2.06. His ERA was a disgusting 7.51. He’s old and hasn’t really ever been very effective.
Some betting trends:
The Chicago Cubs are 7-15 SU in their last 22 games and they are 1-4 SU in their last 5 on the road. The total has gone UNDER In 5 of their last 7 games against the White Sox and the Cubs are 3-8 SU in their last 11 against the White Sox. The total has gone UNDER in 13 of the Cubs’ last 19 games on the road against the White Sox.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the White Sox last 7 games and they are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home. The total has also gone UNDER in 5 of their last 7 games against the Cubs and they are 8-3 SU in their last 11 against the Cubs. The White Sox are 8-3 SU in their last 11 at home against the Cubs and the total has gone UNDER in 13 of the last 19 home games against the Chicago Cubs.
With their ace on the mound against a washed up Doug Davis, it’s easy to see why the White Sox are favored. Peavy needs to stay healthy because he’s very effective when he is, and with a contract his size he should be producing at least as good as a 2nd starter, if not an ace.
