Friday, August 15, 2014

Citi Field, Queens, New York City, New York

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Friday night, the Chicago Cubs will send Travis Wood (7 – 9, 4.86 ERA) to the hill as they square off against Zack Wheeler (7 – 8, 3.53 ERA) and the New York Mets. Both pitchers will be making their 25th starts of the season. 

Travis Wood had a good outing in his last start but he wasn’t able to get the decision.  Wood pitched 6 innings and allowed a run on 4 hits as he walked 3 and struck out 5.  It was Wood’s 4th straight no decision but the only start where he really deserved the victory.  Wood hasn’t had a victory since mid-June and is 0 - 4 in his last 10 starts.  In 2013, Wood was 9 – 12 with a 3.11 ERA in 32 starts.

Last season, Wood didn’t get the decision in his only start against the Mets.  He didn’t get the decision in his start against the Mets earlier this season either.

Zack Wheeler didn’t factor into the decision in his last outing after allowing 3 runs and 3 hits (including a home run) in 6 innings of work.  He walked 3 and struck out 5.  For the 9th time in 10 starts, Wheeler threw over 106 pitches.  He is 5 - 1 in those 10 starts but he really need to bring the pitch count down if he is going to make it through the whole season.  Wheeler averaged 101.6 pitches per start last season when he started 17 games en route to a 7 – 5 record and a 3.42 ERA. 

In 2013, Wheeler didn’t face the Cubs but he has faced them once this season.  In that start, Wheeler got a no-decision despite pitching 6.2 innings of shutout ball.          

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs are 59-52-7 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Chicago Cubs is -0.4

New York Mets Betting Trends

New York Mets are 53-53-14 against the Over/Under

Run differential for New York Mets is 0

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

08/10/14 P Brian Schlitter Shoulder 15-day DL (8/9)
07/31/14 P Felix Doubront Calf 15-day DL (7/31)
03/31/14 P James McDonald Shoulder 60-day DL (2/23)

New York Mets

08/11/14 P Jacob deGrom Shoulder questionable
07/26/14 P Daisuke Matsuzaka Elbow 15-day DL (7/24)
04/01/14 P Bobby Parnell Elbow 15-day DL (4/1), out for season
03/28/14 P Matt Harvey Elbow 60-day DL (3/30), out for season

Josh's Pick: Take New York

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald