The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs in the finale of their four-game series on Sunday with Brad Penny facing Jason Marquis. The Dodgers have struggled in recent weeks, particularly without Rafael Furcal in the lineup, but they are still very much in the National League West race. The Cubs, on the other hand, have the best record in the National League and now are starting to play better on the road.
MLB Betting Preview
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Sunday, 8:05 pm Eastern – ESPN
Check out the current line for this game at SBG Global.
The Dodgers have had trouble offensively and that may continue especially since Jeff Kent and Matt Kemp will be serving suspensions soon. “Every one of us has frustration," Kent said, "But we can fall back on who we're competing against. Right now, the Diamondbacks are not running away from us, and we can take some pride in the fact that we're OK." It would also help the Dodgers if pitcher Brad Penny got things turned around. He has not pitched well this season going 5-7 with a 5.45 ERA. He has not won a game in over a month. He finally threw a quality start in his last outing as he went six innings against the Rockies and gave up two runs and six hits. It was his first quality start in seven outings.
The Cubs go with Jason Marquis on Sunday. He is 3-3 on the season with a 5.02 ERA. He has not pitched well this season either although he did get the win against the Padres in his last outing. He still gave up three runs in five innings.
The Dodgers should be able to score against Marquis, something they haven’t been doing much in recent games. Heading into the weekend they had been shutout or scored just one run in 8 of 13 games, all losses. Manager Joe Torre wants his pitchers to stay calm. "They can only do their part of the game," Torre said. "As long they keep pitching the way they've been pitching, eventually we're going to come out on the long end of this thing. But right now it's a little frustrating. But that's what happens during the course of the season. You're going to have to basically keep grinding it and get a better result."
Here are some MLB betting notes for Sunday’s game. Heading into Friday’s game the Cubs had won the previous four contests between the two teams this season with three of the four games going under the total. Last year in Los Angeles the Dodgers won two of three from the Cubs and two of the three games went under the total.
