Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Free Pick: Milwaukee Brewers (125)
Fri April 10th ’09 4:05p – Click here for MLB Odds
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The Milwaukee Brewers open up Miller Park for the 2009 season and welcome in the Chicago Cubs for the first of many NL Central Division battles. The Cubs and their betting backers came away winners in their first road series of the season after taking two of three from the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Milwaukee backers weren?t as fortunate after the Brew Crew dropped two of three at the hands of the upstart San Francisco Giants. The Cubbies were a decent road team a year ago going 42-38 (+$400), while Milwaukee earned an impressive 49-32 overall mark at home and made $345 as a host.

Rich Harden was a welcome addition to the Cubs starting rotation right before the trade deadline last season. While donning Cubbie blue, the power righty went 5-1 with a stellar 1.77 ERA allowing just 39 hits and 14 earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 89/30. He dominated the Brewers. In each of his starts against them last season allowing just seven hits and two earned runs while fanning 16 and walking six in 12 combined innings of work; Chicago won both games.

Braden Looper was signed as a free agent this off-season to fill the void in their starting rotation. He has eight career starts against the Cubs while throwing for Tony LaRussa?s St. Louis Cardinals. In his career against the Northsiders, Looper?s 2-4 with a solid 2.42 ERA and 1.135 WHIP. He faced Chicago four times last season and three of the games saw the Cardinals lose by a single run; each of his L/6 starts against Chicago have combined to go under the closing ?total?.

With Harden missing a bulk of spring training due to a stomach ailment and Looper not having any problems limiting the Cubs potent offense in his career, this looks to be too good a spot not take a flier on the home team. Miller Park will be hopping, and the Brewers know they have to save face against their hated rivals knowing Chicago won 5 of the 7 meetings here a year ago.

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