#Marcus Stroman

Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the swingin' after-party for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. I hope you all had a good weekend. If you spent it at the Cubs convention, we're glad that you've decided to continue the good times with us. Come on in out of the cold. If it's raining or snowing where you are, come in and get…

It's another Wednesday evening at BCB After Dark: the swinging spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. It's the last show of the week and we're going out with a bang. We're so glad you could come and join us. It's cold out there but it's warm in here. There are still a few good tables available. There's a two-drink…

Who doesn't love some NL Central baseball? In this edition of division foes, the Pittsburgh Pirates will battle it out with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in the first matchup of a four-game set on Thursday. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Pirates-Cubs prediction and pick will be made. Heading into this one, the Pirates have dropped…

The New York Mets visit Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon for a battle against a National League foe. The Mets take on the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a four-game set in the Windy City. New York won the opener by an 8-0 margin on Thursday evening. The Mets are 56-34 this season, and the Cubs enter at 34-55 overall. First pitch is at 2:20…

This offseason has the potential to go many different ways for the Cubs. There are a multitude of players at the top of the free agent market that would fit well on this Cubs roster. Jed Hoyer's front office could also opt to make a big trade this winter, leveraging some of the organization's young talent to acquire impact players at the big-league…

Losing is never fun. Unfortunately for Aaron Sanchez, he and the Blue Jays have gotten used to it: They're an abysmal 5-16 in his 21 starts this season. He hasn't won a start since April 27 against the Oakland Athletics at home. Using our Bet Labs database, let's examine how Sanchez's losing streak ranks in betting history. The Blue Jays have lost…

Chicago Cubs (41-61) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (55-48) August 4, 2022 1:15 pm EDT The Line: Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals -149 / Chicago Cubs+138; Over/Under: 7.5 --- Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals -177 / Chicago Cubs+163; Over/Under: 8.5 (Click here for latest betting odds) The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB doubleheader…

With the 2022 MLB All-Star festivities in the books, it's time for a quick round of bold predictions before the second half of the season gets underway on Thursday. What follows are 10 bold predictions for the remainder of the 2022 season, focusing mostly on individual players rather than teams since there will be plenty of postseason predictions…

This is one of baseball's most exciting weekends for those who follow and love the MLB draft process. Later today is the All-Star Futures Game, where two Blue Jays prospects Ricky Tiedemann and Yosver Zulueta made the roster and could potentially pitch an inning or two in the game at some point through the day (start time 4. p.m. PT). On Monday the…

If Coors Field is hell for pitchers, then Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati might just be Death Valley during a heat wave. Cincinnati Reds pitchers have long known that when at home, the answer to "Would It Dong?" is almost always "Yes" anytime a ball goes in the air. ESPN's Park Factors has Great American in the top-10 most home run-friendly…

No matter who wins the upcoming American League Championship Series, the Toronto Blue Jays or Cleveland Indians will inject the World Series with fresh blood. After winning the title in 1993, the Blue Jays went 21 seasons without a playoff berth until last year. After falling short against the Kansas City Royals in 2015, they have another chance to…

Opening Day at Wrigley Field brings us the Interstate 94 rivalry. We like the Brewers to have their way with Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks and win as road favorites with the total going Over. Find out more in our Brewers vs. Cubs picks. The first game of the MLB regular season will feature the Chicago Cubs hosting the Milwaukee Brewers for a day…

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers play the third game of their four-game set tonight at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles is playing for the series win tonight after winning the first two games. The Dodgers are now on a five-game winning streak as they have looked sharp from top to bottom. Within this streak, Los Angeles' pitching staff hasn't…

The Cubs are getting ready to play ball and take on St. Louis and Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The three teams have more time to enhance their rosters before the start of the 2023 season, but as it stands now the Cardinals are less likely to have an easy jog to the division title. And that's true even after their signing of…

The Toronto Blue Jays head into the new season firmly fixated on building for the future after definitively closing their previous competitive window during a miserable 2018. At the transition's forefront is top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who tore through Double-A and Triple-A while earning wide acclaim as the best prospect in baseball.…

The New York Mets are a perfect 6-0 in their last six games after sweeping the Miami Marlins in a four-game series earlier this week. The Mets will try to keep their winning streak going on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. New York is a+110 home underdog on the MLB odds in Queens at sportsbooks…

It's a chilly Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning here at BCB After Dark: the jumpin' joint for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and get out of the cold. There are still a few good tables available. We're glad you could join us. The holiday cheer is flowing freely. No ugly sweater required. Have yourself a lovely…

The hardest part of breaking up is usually moving on. For the Cubs, the hardest part was how long the relationship dragged on. Chicago's clubhouse had to be a really uncomfortable place last season. The writing was on the wall like a big graffiti art piece that the team was going to undergo a lot of changes. The core of the 2016 World Series team…

The Chicago Cubs have been'active' this offseason. They signed former National League MVP Cody Bellinger. If his signing pays off is still to be determined, but betting on the 27-year-old, left-handed, power-hitting, plus defender is the exact low-risk, high-reward move that the Cubs should be making. They also shelled out $68 million to…

Major League Baseball's 2022 winter meetings blew through San Diego like a three-day whirlwind, sending Justin Verlander to the Mets, Trea Turner to the Phillies, Willson Contreras to the Cardinals, Kenley Jansen to the Red Sox and "Arson Judge" into the pantheon of baseball's greatest Twitter moments. One of our biggest takeaways from the spending…

The San Francisco Giants (65-73, 28-41 away) are mired in yet another losing streak. Just nine days after ending a seven-game skid, San Fran is now out to end a five-game drought when they face the Chicago Cubs (58-80, 30-40 home) in the second outing of a three-game set on Saturday. Oddsmakers believe the Giants have a decent shot at earning their…

Each day, one of our experts at bet.NOLA.com will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks in Louisiana are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer. A reminder for those who haven't signed up yet: Caesars is offering a deal through bet.NOLA.com in which…

With Opening Day right around the corner, it's important to get ahead of as many predictions as possible. At least, it's more fun that way. Think about it like this: Just a few weeks ago, we weren't sure when we might watch Major League Baseball again. Here we are after every major free-agent signing and plenty of marquee trades, with a decent look…

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to Syracuse.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. Baseball season is nearly upon us. Are you doing your research and planning your MLB futures bets? Our team of experts has been analyzing every MLB team…

The Cincinnati Reds will host the Chicago Cubs in a battle between division rivals on Tuesday. Cincinnati and Chicago face off in the second game of a four-game series in late May, with Great American Ball Park serving as the venue. The Reds are 12-29 this season after a 7-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday. Chicago is 17-24 to begin the 2022…

With the Milwaukee Brewers 2022 season set to start on Thursday, it is that time again to give my previews and predictions for each team in the NL Central. With Spring Training finished, the rosters for each team are essentially set and the players that each team have will be the ones they will roll with into the season. For the second year in a…

When you look at the Pittsburgh Pirates you're probably not thinking the best of teams. They finished with 101 losses last year, making them the 4th worst team in 2021. But there is light on the horizon. Many predict that in 2023, we could see a team that could conceivably compete for a Wild Card spot. But could we see that come to fruition a year…

The 2022 Major League Baseball season is almost here and Sportsnaut's MLB predictions offer projections for the standings, award winners and more. MLB games today will offer daily predictions and the full schedule for the entire season from 2022 Opening Day to the World Series. As part of our year-round MLB coverage, we'll provide analysis, the…

Wrigley Field hosts a high-profile matchup under the lights on Sunday Night Baseball. The Chicago Cubs welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to town for a showdown between National League foes. Los Angeles is 18-7 this season after sweeping a double-header against Chicago on Saturday. The Cubs are 9-17 this season and aiming to avoid a fifth consecutive…

The New York Mets (56-34) travel to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (34-55) in a battle on Saturday afternoon. New York is looking to end the first half of the season on a high note and secure another win against the Cubs. The Mets won the first game of this series 8-0 before the second game was postponed due to rain. The teams will play…

With another baseball season beginning, it's time for our baseball writers to weigh in with their boldest and best predictions. What team are poised to surprise? Which players will break out? And who will win it all? All those questions are answered below, and before you say you can't predict baseball, remember this: Jeff Blair has correctly called…

For the second year in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays made it to the American League Championship Series. And for the second year in a row, the Blue Jays came up short, this time losing to the Cleveland Indians in five games. With a number of players eligible for free agency, most notably Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, what the team's roster…

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their weekend rivalry series at Busch Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With that said, it's a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes a Cubs-Cardinals prediction and pick, laid out below. Chicago has fallen from the heights of their 2016 World Series championship, and the fanbase…

A bounce-back from the depths of rebuild purgatory should start in 2020 for the Toronto Blue Jays, who firmly believe the arrow on their trajectory is pointed up after three years of struggle, torment and pain. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Danny Jansen, among others, were all integrated during a…

The New York Mets (28-23) play the San Diego Padres (36-24) Sunday in the finale of their four-game series at Petco Park. First pitch will be at 4:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Mets vs. Padres odds with MLB picks and predictions. Mets ace RHP Jacob deGrom outdueled Padres starter Joe Musgrove in New York's 4-0 win…

The Chicago Cubs (15-21) will host the Arizona Diamondbacks (18-21), Thursday at 7:40 PM ET, in the first of a four-game series. The Diamondbacks are the road favorite (-120) versus the Cubs (+100). The scheduled starters are Zac Gallen (2-0) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Marcus Stroman for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs suffered a 3-2 loss to the…

The Chicago Cubs (8-13) play the Milwaukee Brewers (14-7), who will be attempting to extend a three-game winning run, Sunday at 2:10 PM ET, at American Family Field. The Brewers are the road favorite (-203) against the Cubs (+171). The Milwaukee Brewers will hand the ball to Corbin Burnes (1-0, 6.98 ERA) looking for win No. 2 on the season, and the…

MESA, Ariz. -- There is a lot of talk around the Cubs about striking that balance between contending now and building for the future. Manager David Ross has a more direct take on his goal for the coming campaign. "Winning. Making the playoffs. Getting to the World Series," Ross said at the start of Spring Training. "We're never going to stop…

The New York Mets were an embarrassment last year. Billionaire hedge fund manager Steven Cohen spent almost $200 million in payroll to finish 77-85, players fought with fans on social media -- and through the actual media -- and Cohen had his say publicly as well. GM Jared Porter was hired and then fired about a month later for inappropriate…

The New York Mets have received more than twice as many bets - in terms of tickets and handle - than any other team in baseball to win the World Series, according to numbers released from BetMGM.The Mets opened at+2500 - and were The Athletic's Eno Sarris' early division-winner pick at+175 in January - and have since dropped to+1200 to win the…

The Toronto Blue Jays (37-62) play the second of a three-game weekend set against the Detroit Tigers (29-64) Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Eastern at Comerica Park. Toronto took Friday's series opener 12-1. SP Marcus Stroman pitched seven scoreless innings and all but one starter had at least one hit or one RBI. Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook; for a…

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Chicago Cubs in the fourth game of their series in the National League West versus National League Central from Dodgers Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The weather is expected to be mildly humid with a 0% chance of rain and 8.7 miles per hour winds. The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off of a 2 run win against the…

The Washington Nationals (50-63) and New York Mets (57-55) got in one game Wednesday, a come from behind 8-7 victory for the Mets, however the nightcap was rained out so now the teams will play a doubleheader Thursday. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 12:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field. Let's analyze the lines around the Nationals vs. Mets odds with MLB…

One of the great observations of the Chicago baseball scene appeared several decades ago in a column by my former Chicago Tribune colleague Steve Daley. "Baseball has no offseason in Chicago," Daley wrote. "Interest only starts to wane when the teams start to play their games." That was long before the Cubs and White Sox ended their respective…

Nolan Arenado and the St. Louis Cardinals square off against the Chicago Cubs and starter Marcus Stroman on Sunday at 2:15 PM ET at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals' 3.79 team ERA ranks 10th among all MLB pitching staffs. The Cubs have hit 134 homers this season, which ranks 17th in the league. Here's everything you need to get ready for Sunday's…

The Chicago Cubs continue a four-game series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night! Both squads have gotten off to a hot start to the season, and it is time to check out our MLB odds series, where our Cubs-Rockies prediction and pick will be revealed. Chicago enters Friday's play at 4-2, good enough for a half-game lead on the…

Dusty Baker finally got his long-awaited ring as the Houston Astros secured their second World Series title in six years, suffering just two postseason losses at the end of an outstanding regular season. Well done, Houston. Now, can you become the first back-to-back champion in more than two decades? An awful lot will change before Major League…

The Chicago Cubs (38-30) and New York Mets (35-25) wrap up their four-game series Thursday night at Citi Field, with first pitch coming at 7:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Cubs vs. Mets odds with MLB picks and predictions. RHP Kyle Hendricks is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs. He is 8-4 with a 4.46 ERA,…

The New York Mets (56-52) travel to Citizens Bank Park Friday to start a three-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies (56-53) at 7:05 p.m. ET. Let's analyze the lines around the Mets vs. Phillies odds with MLB picks and predictions. New York has lost four of its last six games, and seven of the last 10, and is now just a half-game in front of…

The Colorado Rockies (19-30) and New York Mets (22-20) meet Thursday for a 12:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Citi Field. After a Wednesday rainout, Games 3 and 4 of that series will be played as a doubleheader. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Rockies vs. Mets odds with MLB picks and predictions. RHP German Marquez is the projected…