MONDAY POWER-SMASH ~ INSANE 34-14-1 L49 MLB!
(MLB) Cleveland vs. Chi Cubs, 06/21/2021 8:05 PM, Score: 4 - 0
Money Line: -135.00 Chi Cubs (Home)
Result: Loss
8* Chi Cubs (8:05 ET): Cleveland avoided what would have been a very embarrassing sweep in Pittsburgh by winning 2-1 yesterday. In the last two series, the Tribe has faced the Pirates and the Orioles, arguably the two worst teams in the sport. They swept Baltimore, but the trek through the National League continues here with a visit to Wrigley Field. Obviously, any opponent would represent a “step up” in class after the last two series. But this one happens to be the best team in the NL Central and I see the Cubs gaining a measure of revenge for a pair of losses they suffered at Progressive Field last month.

The Indians are 39-30 on the year, so they have a slightly better win percentage than the Cubs do. But the Tribe have overachieved to get there as they have a run differential of just +3. I don’t see this team, which has very little offensive firepower, even getting a Wild Card spot. The loss of the DH does them no favors as they’ve scored only five runs the previous two games.

Due to injuries, the Indians’ starting rotation is somewhat in shambles. Aaron Civale is now the “de facto ace” with Shane Bieber on the DL. While Civale has the nice team start record (11-3), his individual numbers aren’t all that great. His strikeout rate (6.9 per nine innings) is “nothing to write home about” and the ERA and WHIP are fairly comparable to what Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay has produced despite a 5-6 TSR. Civale has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings. Alzolay hasn’t started in two weeks, so he’s obviously well rested. After being beaten up on Friday & Saturday, the Cubs came back and avoided the sweep themselves Sunday with a 2-0 win over Miami. They are now 25-12 at home this season. 8* Chi Cubs