New York Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs – May 21, 2014 – Betting Preview and Prediction

The Chicago Cubs have now put together a three-game winning streak after knocking off the Yankees on Tuesday, 6-1. As we discussed in our series preview, Chicago’s offense was a major question mark coming into this series, and the Cubbies’ hitters answered the bell in their first of two in Chicago.

With their best pitcher in Jeff Samardzija taking the mound today, can the Cubs’ offense continue its recent resurgence? Or will they just make Samardzija want to leave the Friendly Confines?

Create your own betting account and you can swing for the fences yourself with a bet on this showdown between two of baseball’s most storied teams. Read on for more on this game below.
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New York Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2:20 PM ET

Line: New York Yankees (EVEN) at Chicago Cubs (-110) – view all MLB lines

Betting on the New York Yankees

Following Masahiro Tanaka’s first loss of his MLB career yesterday, the New York Yankees will send another rookie to the mound today in Chase Whitley, as they try to earn a split in their two-game set in the Windy City.

[sc:MLB240banner ]Whitley impressed in his first career appearance in the majors on May 15 in the Yankees’ road win against the New York Mets, giving up two hits without allowing a run, while striking out four batters in 4.2 innings of work.

If Whitley is to have a chance against a suddenly-dangerous Cubs team, the Yankees’ offense must give the young fill-in enough run support.

The Yankees entered the first game of the series as the team with the more robust offense, but were held to just one run. The Yanks hadn’t been held to one run in their last 14 games, after averaging close to five per game in their previous eight games.

New York is 9-2 in its last 11 games after a managing two runs or less in the last game. All of their last six games have also gone under their totals.

Betting on the Chicago Cubs

It’s high time for the Cubs to give Jeff Samardzija the run support he fully deserves.  A victim of his teammates’ ineptitude from behind the plate, Samardzija is still winless despite owning the majors’ best ERA mark of 1.62. So far this season, the Cubs are only giving him 2.21 runs of support per game.

However, his search for the elusive first win of the season could end tonight, especially if the Cubs continue to hit like they’ve done over their last few outings. After last night’s six-run output against New York, the Cubs have now scored at least three runs in each of their last seven games.

Luis Valbuena will be among those to be counted upon by Samardzija to deliver. Valbuena has been the hottest hitter for the Cubs over the last five games. He is 7-for-13 (.538) during that stretch, and went 3-for-4 in the series opener against the Yankees.

The under is 10-3 in Samardzija’s last 13 starts. Moreover, the total has hit the under in three of the Cubs’ last four contests after a win.

Writer’s Prediction

Jeff Samardzija will finally notch his first win of the season by tossing another gem backed by better Cubs hitting. Take Chicago at -110 to win, and the game to go over the total.
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