New York Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs – May 20-21, 2014 – MLB Series Betting Preview and Prediction

The Chicago Cubs welcome the New York Yankees at Wrigley field for a two-game series starting tonight. The Yankees have won both games at home when they hosted the Loveable Losers last month, and the Cubs would like to return the favor to the American League East’s top team.

Create a betting account now and get into the action with our comprehensive betting preview below for this short two-game series between two of the majors’ most iconic ball clubs.
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New York Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs Series Preview

Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago

When: May 20-21, 2014

Game 1 line: New York Yankees (-160) at Chicago Cubs (+145) – view all MLB lines

Keys to the Series

Masahiro Tanaka has spoiled the New York Yankees with one superb outing after another. With a 6-0 start to his blossoming major league career, the 25-year old Japanese strikeout machine is back on the mound in Game 1 of the series against the Chicago Cubs, whom he terrorized back at Yankee Stadium a little over a month ago. Tanaka threw a two-hitter versus the Cubs in eight innings of work without allowing a run in the Yankees’ 3-0 win last April 16th.

[sc:MLB240banner ]Tanaka has been the anchor of the Yankees’ rotation. With CC Sabathia (knee) no longer able to hide his injury, the Bronx Bombers are left with a collection of struggling and hurting hurlers for the time being. In the meantime, it will be up to the Japanese pair of Hiroki Kuroda and Tanaka to hold down the fort at the top of the pitching order.

In the second game of the series, Yankees will turn to Chase Whitley, another rookie, but one who has less solid credentials. Though he will be up against the formidable Jeff Samardzija (1.62 ERA – no. 2 in the majors), the Yankees’ decided advantage on offense – they are no. 10 in runs in the MLB with 188 – could be expected to back Whitley up.

Samardzija would kill for some run support these days. In fact, despite Samardzija’s strong start, he surprisingly has yet to win a game particularly because of the Cubs’ inept offense. He is 0-4 so far in nine starts. The Cubs are 24th in the majors in runs (166) and 25th in batting average (.234).

That said, the Cubs’ offense appears to have broken the mold in their last two games. Chicago is coming off back-to-back wins at home against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, whom they outscored 10-6 in their three-game series.

Starlin Castro and Luis Valbuena have provided the Cubs sparks from behind the plate over the last seven days. Castro is 8-for-21 (.381) during that span, while Valbuena went 7-for-15 (.467) over that period.

Pitching Match-ups

Game 1: NYY – Masahiro Tanaka (6-0, 2.17 ERA) vs. CHC PITCHER Jason Hammel (4-2, 3.06 ERA)

Trends:

The Yankees are 5-2 in their last 7 road games.

The over is 4-1 in the Cubs’ last  five home games.

Game 2: NYY – Chase Whitley (in one start this season vs. Mets: 4.2 IP, 2 Hits, 2 BB) vs. CHC – Jeff Samardzija (0-4, 1.62 ERA)

Trends:

The Cubs are 0-6 in Jeff Samardzija’s last six starts.

The under is 3-1 in the Cubs’ last four home games when Jeff Samardzija starts.

Prediction

Take the Yankees to win by at least two on the run line: -1.5 (-110), which pays $19.09 on a $10 bet, as Masahiro Tanaka will notch his seventh win in his first trip to the Friendly Confines. In the second game, take the Cubs to win, as Samardzija will have another great start with the Cubs finally supplying much needed run support for their ace.
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