Home Cooking: Cubs target seventh straight home win against Brewers

Baseball Betting Lines

07/04/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have picked the perfect time to get hot. Today, they try to win their seventh straight game at home and their fourth consecutive game overall, as they continue a four-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs moved back over .500 and closed to within 2 1/2 games of first place in the NL Central on Friday when Jake Fox drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Ryan Theriot in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting Chicago to a 2-1 win.

Theriot finished 2-for-5, while Mike Fontenot and Koyie Hill each had two hits apiece for the Cubs, who are in the midst of their longest home winning streak since taking 14 straight in the Windy City from May 18-June 22, 2008.

Carlos Zambrano went an effective seven innings, but did not factor in the decision. The burly right-hander allowed one run on five hits, struck out three and walked the same number of batters. He also had an RBI single. Kevin Gregg (3-2) was credited with the win after working two scoreless innings.

"We got good pitching, kept us in the ball game ," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Zambrano, (Aaron) Heilman, Gregg. To hold that team down to one run, you're pitching well."

Corey Hart accounted for the lone Milwaukee run with a bases loaded walk. The Brewers have dropped three straight. Craig Counsell had a hit and scored in defeat.

The loss was also Milwaukee's fifth straight on the road, where it hasn't lost six in a row since a nine-game slide from May 2-18, 2008.

Jeff Suppan pitched to a no-decision after going seven solid innings. He gave up a run on four hits, walked a pair and fanned four.

"We got to start hitting day games after night games, because the last two day games after night games we were shutout and today we got one run, a walk with the bases loaded," Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "So, we have to change that up a little bit. But 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, you aren't going to win many games doing that."

Heading to the hill for the Cubs today will be right-hander Rich Harden, who is 5-4 with a 4.57 ERA. Harden won for the first time since May 12 on Monday in Pittsburgh, as he held the Pirates to a run and nine hits in seven innings. He also struck out nine and walked a batter.

Harden did not get a decision the last time he faced the Brewers, but is 1-0 in three starts against them, surrendering just three runs over 18 innings of those outings.

Milwaukee will counter with righty Braden Looper, who is 6-4 this season with a 4.90 ERA. Looper earned the win against the New York Mets on Monday, as he held them to one earned run and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Looper has faced the Cubs 41 times (nine starts) and is 3-6 with a 2.57 ERA.

Milwaukee has lost five of its eight meetings with the Cubs this season, but won in five of its nine visits to Wrigley a year ago.

Wwwgamblersavenue Baseball Betting News

<< Duke goes for win No. 9 against Fish
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Duke goes after his ninth win of the season this evening when the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium. Duke has been one of the best left-handers in the l

<< Moyer shoots for third straight win in middle tilt with Mets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies hope Jamie Moyer can give them the same type of effort that Rodrigo Lopez did on Friday, when they continue their three-game series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Lopez (1-0), w

<< Halladay, Wang square off in Bronx
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Roy Halladay will take the mound for the Blue Jays when Toronto takes on the New York Yankees in the second matchup of a four-game stint at Yankee Stadium. The strong

<< Last place teams continue set in Cleveland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The cellar dwellers from the AL Central and AL West will collide once again this evening when the Cleveland Indians host the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field. Toeing the rubber this evening for Oakland will be Vin Ma

<< Rays hope the Price is right in Arlington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still trying to work out some kinks, the Tampa Bay's phenom lefty David Price will take the hill this evening against the hard- hitting Texas Rangers in the second contest of a three-game stint. Price, a playoff hero for

Sibling smash: Serena bests Venus to win Wimbledon >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In an overpowering performance, Serena Williams bested her older sister, Venus, in straight sets to win the title at Wimbledon for a third time. The 27-year-old Serena denied her sibling a three-peat

No rest for the weary: Tigers, Twins back at it after marathon >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers will try to put distance between them and the Minnesota Twins when the two teams collide this afternoon in the second matchup of a three-game series at the Metrodome. Edwin Jackson will toe the rubber

BoSox try to bounce back against Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox will try to return to the win column when they host the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Fenway Park. Boston's starter this afternoon will be Brad Penny, who has one win in his last six starts. The la

With Manny return behind them, LA gets back to business in San Diego >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the return of Manny Ramirez now behind them, the Los Angeles Dodgers can get back to business, as they continue their three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Ramirez returned from a 50-game suspensi

Reds, Owings seek to slow down Pujols >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Brad Thompson starts against the Cincinnati Reds for the second time this season today when the St. Louis Cardinals head to Great American Ball Park for the middle test of a three-game series with their Nationa

Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.