WGN MLB Betting: Cubs vs Astros

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: The Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Minute Maid Park. The Cubs will give the ball to ace starter Carlos Zambrano in this one. Righthander Zambrano is 1-2 this season with a 7.45 ERA. It'll be Felipe Paulino toeing the rubber for the Astros in this contest. Righthander Paulino is 0-7 with a 4.40 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Cubs listed as 126-moneyline favorites versus the Astros, while the game's total is sitting at 8. Neil Walker's two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Pirates past the Cubs 3-2 on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh cashed as +135 home underdogs, while the teams played UNDER the 8.5-run total set by oddsmakers. Xavier Nady went 4-for-4 with a two-run dinger for Chicago, while losing pitcher Ted Lilly allowed three runs over 7 2-3 innings for the Cubs. The Astros defeated Washington 6-4 as a +120 underdog on Thursday. The 10 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (9). Carlos Lee clubbed a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for Houston and Kevin Cash and Lance Berkman hit solo home runs in the win. Current streak: Chicago has lost 3 straight games. Houston has won 3 straight games. Team records: Chicago: 24-29 SU Houston: 20-34 SU Chicago most recently: When playing on Friday are 3-7 Before playing Houston are 5-5 After playing Pittsburgh are 3-7 After a loss are 5-5 Houston most recently: When playing on Friday are 2-8 Before playing Chi Cubs are 4-6 After playing Washington are 7-3 After a win are 5-5 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games when playing Houston The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Chi Cubs's last 19 games when playing on the road against Houston The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi Cubs's last 11 games Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Houston's last 19 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs Next up: Houston home to Chi Cubs, Saturday, June 5 For winning point spread picks, Joe Duffy has his picks part of GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com A long-time veteran of the sports betting industry, Duffy got his start at Dial Sports 976 Dial It service and eventually became the most decorated scorephone handicapper in history.