Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Chicago Cubs by 3As we tango into this matchup, we're looking at the Miami Marlins squaring off against the Chicago Cubs at the historical hot spot, Wrigley Field. A place where the batter often leaves with a crooked smile, aesthetic views and all.
On the mound for the Marlins is Cal Quantrill, who's been having a bit of a sweaty season with a rather plump ERA of 7.38 and a WHIP of 1.74. Now, it's not just his numbers making me squint. Opposing him in blue is Colin Rea of the Cubs, who's toasted a neat 2.53 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP this season. I mean, talk about flipping pancakes.
The Marlins' batting lineup has a few noteworthy faces. Dane Myers has been a consistent hitter, posting a .340 batting average alongside 12 RBIs and 3 homers. Then there's Kyle Stowers with his six home runs tucked into his back pocket. Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks round out the crew, both proving they can pull off the occasional magic trick at the plate.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have their own band of merrymakers. Lead singer is Ian Happ, who matches Myers' average of .313 and has close to Happ's number of RBIs and home runs. Carson Kelly is another who won't let the ball just whizz by, and Pete Crow-Armstrong – well, let's just say he’s got some serious wings with 10 homers and 23 RBIs to his credit.
Peeping through the rearview mirror at past matchups, we see a bit of a seesaw. Some days the Marlins are up, some days the Cubs are howlin’. Looking at the season records though, the Cubs seem to have found their groove more often than the Marlins.
Both teams had a mixed bag of candy this past week. The Marlins scored a victory against the Cubs recently but have also been on the receiving end of some heavy beatings. The Cubs, on the other hand, have also had their share of wins and losses, but I have a feeling they're about to fetch a win, aided by their home turf and a solid betting fact favouring them but alas, I've been told I can't mention.
So without further ado, my prediction, chums:
Albert’s Prediction: Chicago Cubs by 3