The Cubs are mired in a dire situation – either they don’t produce enough offense to be in a game or they have a hot night at the plate only to turn the game over to their bullpen which inevitably will blow the lead. Scenario two is what happened in Monday’s series opener, as the Giants scored six runs in the 7th inning or later (including 3 in the 9th) to take the 7-6 victory.
Before Betting on June 18 Giants vs Cubs
Three of the first four San Francisco batters went down looking on Monday, but they were obviously setting up a strategy to be more aggressive later in the game. Heliot Ramos hit a game tying HR in the 7th and Thairo Estrada delivered the death blow with a 3-run shot in the top of the 9th to help the Giants get a win on the opening leg of a 5-game road trip that includes a Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham on Thursday against the Cardinals.
You can’t ask a lot more from your starting pitcher if you’re Chicago manager Craig Counsell, as Javier Assad threw 5.0 IP of 1-run ball on Monday. That Cubs bullpen is a dumpster fire though with a 4.49 ERA so the longer Justin Steele (0-3, 3.22 ERA) can go on Tuesday the better. Steele’s issue hasn’t been the bullpen blowing a lead that he hands them, it’s been the Chicago offense falling flat in his starts as he’s allowed 1 ER total in his last two starts – both Cubs losses.
Lost in yet another Chicago bullpen meltdown on Monday was the fact that the Giants relievers weren’t great either. Jordan Hicks pitched 5.0 IP of shutout ball but Randy Rodriguez and Erik Miller gave up 3 ER apiece. Logan Webb (6-5, 3.02 ERA) starts for SF on Tuesday trying to improve on a 4.05 ERA in three starts this month. The good news is San Francisco has won two of those games, so unlike Steele he gets help from his offense.
San Francisco vs Chicago Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Point Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | GIANTS (1.95) | CUBS (1.95) | 9.5 | GIANTS -1.5 (2.50) | CUBS +1.5 (1.59) |
| MyBookie | GIANTS (1.93) | CUBS (1.88) | 9.5 | GIANTS -1.5 (2.50) | CUBS +1.5 (1.56) |
| Â | Â | Â | Â |
| SportsBetting.ag | GIANTS (1.95) | CUBS (1.95) | 9.5 | GIANTS -1.5 (2.50) | CUBS +1.5 (1.59) |
| XBet | GIANTS (1.93) | CUBS (1.88) | 9.5 | GIANTS -1.5 (2.50) | CUBS +1.5 (1.56) |
June 18 Giants vs Cubs Prediction & Pick
It’s going to be another hot and humid night at Wrigley Field ( 91° at first pitch) with the wind blowing out 15 MPH to left field so maybe we just ignore all the stats and trends and just bet on Mother Nature letting the ball fly out of the park like it did on Monday. The Giants have scored 20 runs their last two games and the Cubs should know how to put the ball in the air in optimum conditions at their own park – and even though Steele has been solid, he has to turn the ball over to the inept Cubs bullpen at some point.Â
