Our Friday night MLB predictions take us to the Great American Ball Park where the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will lock horns in the opener of the division rivals final series of the 2010 season.
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A funny thing happened after Manager Lou Piniella decided to take an early retirement from the sinking ship otherwise known as the Chicago Cubs; they started winning. Maybe it was because they were matched up against another stiff of a ball club in the Washington Nationals, or maybe the team loosened up after the Hall of Fame Skipper vacated the premises. Either way, the Cubs took a solid step forward in attempting to close their 2010 campaign off on the right foot.

The Reds blasted their way to an impressive 5-1 showing throughout the first six legs of their nine game west coast road trip. However, they ended up 6-3 overall after dropping the first two of their series with the San Francisco Giants and needed to go to extras in their marathon 12-11 win in the series finale. Luckily for Manager Dusty Baker’s squad, it had the day off on Thursday to rest up after the long road trip. Now they get to embark on a six-game home stand against division rivals where they sit 10-games over .500 (36-26, $558) for those that made MLB predictions backing them as a host.

Chicago Cubs (54-74, -$2860) vs. Cincinnati Reds (73-54, $1773)
Game Date/Time: Friday, August 27th, 7:10 ET
Game Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
TV/Radio Broadcast: WGN,FOX – Ohio, XM

MLB Odds: Chicago Cubs +1.5 -130 +155 (Tom Gorzelanny – L) vs. Cincinnati Reds – 1.5 +110 -175 (Johnny Cueto – R): Total 9 O Even 9 U -120

Tom Gorzelanny has thrown a ton of pitches entering his 20 th start of the season on Friday night. He tossed 120 pitches for the second consecutive outing in a 5-4 Cubs win his last time out to move Chicago to 7-12 with him leading their charge this season.

He’s been at his best away from Wrigley Field where he sports a 3-2 record with a solid 3.27 ERA, but Chicago Cubs stands just 3-5 in his eight road starts. The Cubs are 1-6 in his L/7 starts vs. NL Central opposition, and he owns a personal mark of 3-4 with a 4.74 ERA in nine lifetime appearances vs. the Reds.

Johnny Cueto’s first start since serving his seven-game suspension didn’t go all too well. The righty was pumped to say the least, and because of it, his control suffered. The righty walked three and served up four home runs through just three innings of an 8-5 MLB predictions defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now he returns to the “GAB” where he owns a 5-2 record with a 4.12 ERA & 1.36 ERA on the year; the Cincinnati Reds won six of his 11 home outings. He was outdueled by Randy Wells in his lone 2010 start against the Cubs and stands just 2-5 with a 4.17 ERA & 1.43 WHIP in nine career starts vs. Chicago.

MLB Insider Tip : Cincinnati has gotten the better of the Cubs this season winning 10 of the 13 overall meetings ($750); that mark includes a 4-2 ($190) mark at the Great American Ball Park. However, there’s just something about this spot for the Redlegs that I just don’t like at all.

Chicago looked to be playing much looser in its most recent series with Washington. Having traded away a number of players over the last month and capping it off with the departure of “Sweet Lou” might have been the exact elixir this club needed to start eating into its outrageous MLB betting deficit.

Gorzelanny has been one of the Cubs most dependable starters since he returned to the starting rotation, and Chicago is currently in the midst of a five-game road winning streak. Cincy could come out a bit rusty in this spot returning from an extended road trip, and they’ve played to an even 6-6 record after an off day to date. Go ahead and take a stab with the barking dog in the series opener!

My MLB Prediction: Chicago Cubs (Gorzelanny)

Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals
Free Pick: Washington Nationals +142
Courtesy of Mike Rose (Handicapperspicks.com)
Click here for expert MLB baseball picks

The Northside will be rocking once again this evening when the Chicago Cubs welcome the Washington Nationals into Wrigley Field for the second of the team’s three scheduled battles.

The Cubs scored a 4-3 walk-off win in extra innings last night when 3B Aramis Ramirez earned a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th inning. The victory was the Cubs fourth in a row and fifth in their L/6 tries to move manager Lou Piniella’s squad to .500 on the year.

It was a well played game that saw both clubs combine for 18 hits, no errors, and both John Lannan and Carlos Silva each pitched at least six innings. The Cubs have now beaten the Nats in six of the L/8 meetings.

Livan Hernandez had the displeasure of matching wits with Colorado Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez his last time out. It just so happened to be the outing right after he tossed a no-no against the Atlanta Braves. The grizzled veteran put forth yet another quality start giving up just four hits (2 HR) and two ER’s while K’ing five and walking a pair through eight IP, but he got zero support from his offense and fell to Ubaldo and the Rockies 2-0.

Southpaw Tom Gorzelanny gets his fourth call to the starting bump tonight looking to bounce back from the tough luck loss he absorbed in his most recent outing against the Mets.

The Cubs are 3-1 as home chalk in the -150 to -175 range this season and a $$$-making 36-16 in that role the L/3 seasons. They’re also on a winning streak.

That said; the only value in this one lies with the visiting Nationals, as Livan has come out of the gates in fine form while Gorzelanny has been a tough luck loser. Washington was right there last night against Silva who had actually led the Cubs to some wins this year; Gorzo hasn’t.

Home plate ump Scott Barry tends to lean to the visitor for some reason as it stands 20-7 the L/27 games he called balls and strikes.

The Nationals are 6-2 the L/8 times they were tagged underdogs in the +110 to +150 range and are 7-2 off a loss this season. Look for them to even the series up tonight!