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Cubs’ bullpen aims for another strong outing vs. Rays
The Chicago Cubs (84-63) leaned heavily on their bullpen Friday and were rewarded with four no-hit innings in a 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Now they’ll try to make it four straight wins Saturday at Wrigley Field.
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Chicago sits second in the NL Central and comfortably in the wild-card picture, while Tampa Bay (72-75) has lost six of its last seven games and is fading out of the AL wild-card race. Looking back at recent MLB outcomes, the Cubs have momentum, while the Rays desperately need a spark to stay alive.
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Tampa Bay Rays Can Win If…
- Drew Rasmussen dominates. The right-hander owns a stellar 2.64 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. If he quiets Chicago’s bats, the Rays have a path.
- The top of the order sparks runs. Junior Caminero’s home run Friday showed his power potential, but Tampa Bay needs more consistency from its middle lineup.
- They use speed as a weapon. The Rays lead MLB with 181 stolen bases, and that pressure could rattle Colin Rea and the Cubs’ defense.
“You feel great about three runs in the first inning. Got to add to that, but we’ve got to prevent some runs from being scored,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Chicago Cubs Can Win If…
- The bullpen stays lights out. The relief corps has strung together 11 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Even without closer Daniel Palencia, the group looks locked in.
- Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner stay hot. Happ homered Friday, and Hoerner added two hits. Their consistency sets the tone for the offense.
- Colin Rea limits damage. While he hasn’t worked past six innings in months, Rea’s last outing (1 run, 3 hits in 5 1/3 innings) was encouraging.
“The consistency is just ridiculous, just remarkable,” Ian Happ said of the Cubs’ bullpen.
Key MLB Betting Trends
| Category | Rays | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 72-75 (4th AL East) | 84-63 (2nd NL Central) |
| Last 10 Games | 4-6, lost 3 straight | 6-4, won 3 straight |
| Runs Per Game | .251 AVG (7th) | .296 AVG for Hoerner |
| ERA / Opp Runs | Rasmussen 2.64 ERA | Team ERA 3.87 (10th) |
| Head-to-Head 2025 | Cubs lead series 1-0 | Won opener 6-4 |
The Leans
Main Pick: Cubs Moneyline (-119)
Projected Final Score: Cubs 5, Rays 4
- Runline Angle: Cubs -1.5 (+152) → Risky but worth a sprinkle given momentum and bullpen form.
- Total Runs Angle: Over 8.5 (-120) → Both lineups showed pop Friday, and my model projects 9 runs.
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Best Bet Box
Best Bet: Cubs Moneyline (-119)
Confidence: ★★★★☆
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