Among pitchers expected to get to 10 wins the quickest, few would have expected it to be Aaron Civale. How the Cleveland Indians’ righty has gotten to 10 wins seem to indicate regression is lurking.
Civale has done a good job of not issuing walks with two walks per nine innings but is also getting a career-low 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings and giving up a career-high 1.4 home runs per nine inning. Civale has allowed at least three earned runs in seven of his 14 starts, with the team going 5-2 in those starts despite being backed up by a lineup that is ninth in the American League in runs per game and 21st in the MLB in batting average.
The Cubs will send Adbert Alzolay to the mound for his first start since June 7. He has been solid at home this season with opponents hitting .200 off of him and is getting 10.1 strikeouts and 2.7 walks per nine innings.
The Cubs have won each of Alzolay’s past four home starts and entered the week 24-12 overall at home this season with a bullpen that leads the MLB in strikeouts per nine innings and ERA being a big reason why.
With the Indians entering the week 1-4 in their past seven road games and allowing an average of 8.8 runs per game, the Cubs will continue to play well in their Friendly Confines.
The play: Cubs, -140
