WebMail 
Cubs-Pirates : Chicago Crash Before All Star Break? 7/9
Cubs-Pirates matchup for Chicago has come at the worst of times. With a 2-8 in their last ten, the Cubbies (52-34) have seen their double digit lead dip to just 7.5 games. Two more games against the Pirates could see that number go down below six. Good Day from all at HRWager as we seek to profit from the Summer Swoon of the Cubs. Today throws a monkeywrench into things as the Pirates wheel out a substitute starter for this one. How will this effect our plundering with a home dog of near +145 in the offering for this 7:15PM start on Saturday the 9th of July?
Cubs-Pirates : Recent Callups of Pitt
So how does Chad Kuhl play into this tonight? Two career appearances for the Pirates and now he gets a key start right before the All-Star Break. This is actually a designed move by Pittsburgh fueled partly out of desperation. They started calling up players from the minors not only for their energy but to motivate the veterans into doing more. Josh Bell who was recently called up got a key pinch hit against Arrieta last night. Taillon has been up for a while but has been above average for a call up after five games. JT has 21 K’s to 5 walks with a 3.86 ERA. So the chances on the Pirates are not as bad as they would seem. It is just not feeding a young arm to the wolves for the sake of innings tonight.
Mindset Dictated by Totals
Want to see what the sharps think of this game? Look at the totals. Opened up at 8 and it has been bet up to 8 1/2 during the overnight action. So is this an indictment of the Cubs starter tonight? Pittsburgh gets Jon Lester to pick on. His WHIP is elevated over his last three starts to 1.38. Teams have cashed in on this to the tune of a 6.19 ERA. Most of this carnage had been in his last start against the Mets. So is his season ERA of 2.67 hitting a wall because he is tiring before the break? Sharps seem to think so in this one.
Lester had the luster knocked off of him last time against the Pirates letting in three runs over six. Chicago with their big bats have the huge potential of rattling the rookie tonight. HRWager has concluded that the sharps know what they are talking about in reference to this game. Go with the over 8 1/2 runs for your profit this Saturday. Good fortune and we will see you later today here at the HRW.
