Barstool Bush
Predictions

Chicago Cubs at Baltimore Orioles

By Bush StaffUpdated 44d ago·2 min read
Chicago CubsCHC(51-40)
Baltimore OriolesBAL(42-50)
9—7
FINAL
123456789RHE
CHC
001030500980
BAL
0012002207141

Colin Rea (6-5, 4.75 ERA) got the ball for Chicago looking to finish off a series sweep, while Dean Kremer (1-1, 4.09 ERA) tried to give Baltimore a stopper after dropping the opener 5-2. Kremer had been sharp his last time out, 6 innings and just 1 earned run against the White Sox, and the Orioles needed that version of him again.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Cubs(51-40)
WWLLW
9
Orioles(42-50)
LLWWW
7
Best BetCubs +105
Postgame

The Cubs winning outright 9-7 cashed the moneyline pick, with a battered Orioles bullpen exactly the bear case that didn't hold up.

Pregame

We backed the Cubs at plus money early, and the outright win is exactly what that price banked on. Chicago's lineup has had Baltimore's number in this series, and with the Orioles' bullpen depleted by injuries to Helsley, Akin and Selby, there was real value in betting against a Baltimore team that has to lean on a shorthanded relief corps late.

Instead it turned into a slugfest. Both lineups traded homers deep into the night, with Chicago's offense eventually pulling away behind a 7th-inning outburst. Baltimore's bullpen, already thin with multiple relievers nursing arm issues, had no answer once the middle innings turned into a track meet.

Chicago Cubs
Colin Rea
(7-6)·4.74 ERA
Jul 1 vs Padres
W
5.0IP
2ER
5K
3BB
81P
07/08 Lineup
Baltimore Orioles
Dean Kremer
(1-2)·4.15 ERA
Jul 1 vs White Sox
W
6.0IP
1ER
4K
1BB
79P
07/08 Lineup

The Cubs have now won the season series matchup in Baltimore and continue to roll near the top of the NL Central at 51-40, while the Orioles slide further under .500 at 42-50. Injuries up and down Baltimore's pitching staff are starting to compound, and nights like this one show exactly why.

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(51-40)
Jul 7W@ Orioles5-2
Jul 5Wvs Cardinals6-4
Jul 5Lvs Cardinals0-3
Jul 3Lvs Cardinals1-17
Jul 1Wvs Padres23-3
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
(42-50)
Jul 7Lvs Cubs2-5
Jul 5L@ Reds2-3
Jul 4W@ Reds8-5
Jul 3W@ Reds3-0
Jul 1Wvs White Sox6-1

Crow-Armstrong hit 2 of Chicago's 5 home runs on the night, part of a barrage that also included shots from Conforto, Kelly and Seiji Suzuki. Rea wasn't dominant, allowing 3 runs over 5.1 innings, but he did enough to hand it off, and closer Jake Webb slammed the door with a scoreless 9th for the save.

Baltimore didn't go quietly. Paul O'Neill went deep twice and Mayo added a homer in the 8th trying to spark a comeback, but the deficit was too much to climb back from. The loss drops the Orioles further into the AL East basement, a rough spot for a team already dealing with a bullpen that's short on healthy arms.

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(15)
  • 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw (hand) won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.07/04
  • 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — Maton (knee) will report to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday to begin a rehab assignment.07/08
  • 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Taillon (hamstring) is expected to make another rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/07
  • 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Cabrera (hamstring) resumed a throwing program this weekend, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.07/06
  • 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm inflammation.06/29
  • 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is progressing in his rehab from elbow tendinitis, but he won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/28
  • 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/27
  • 15-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.06/25
  • 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — The Cubs announced June 10 that Martin (elbow) has resumed playing catch, MLB.com reports.06/22
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) was cleared to begin ramping up his throwing program Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/08
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
  • 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
(9)
  • 15-Day-ILKeegan Akin (RP) — Akin will receive a second opinion on his injured left elbow from Dr. Keith Meister next week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/07
  • 15-Day-ILRyan Helsley (RP) — Helsley will solicit a second opinion on his injured right elbow, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/07
  • 15-Day-ILChris Bassitt (SP) — Bassitt (back) underwent a minor procedure to have bone spurs removed from his back, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/27
  • 60-Day-ILYaramil Hiraldo (RP) — Hiraldo (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A Frederick, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.06/29
  • 60-Day-ILFelix Bautista (RP) — Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Saturday that Bautista (shoulder) has been "throwing really, really well" in his bullpen sessions, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/29
  • 60-Day-ILColin Selby (RP) — Selby plans to receive a second opinion on his right shoulder before continuing his rehab program, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/29
  • 60-Day-ILRyan Mountcastle (1B) — Mountcastle (foot) did some running Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.06/13
  • 60-Day-ILJordan Westburg (3B) — Westburg (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.05/15
  • 60-Day-ILZach Eflin (SP) — Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08

For the Cubs, this is exactly the kind of series they need to be stacking up before the All-Star break, especially with several arms like Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon still working their way back. Chicago's offense is carrying the load right now, and until the rotation gets healthier, that's probably how it stays.

Sources

MLBChicago CubsBaltimore OriolesPolymarketKalshiColin ReaDean Kremer