MLB Betting: Cubs open set in Colorado

Troy Tulowitzki returned from the Colorado Rockies DL this week.

Chicago and Colorado begin a three-game series at Coors Field with Friday's matchup featuring a pair of Canadian pitchers.  Neither team figures to be a major mover and shaker down the stretch of the regular season unless one or the other can piece together a large winning streak.

The Cubs appear to be locked into fourth place in the National League Central standings, 10 ½ games behind St. Louis and Cincinnati.  Meanwhile, the Rockies have struggled to a 1-9 record its past outings to stay just above .500 after 101 games.

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Chicago right-hander Ryan Dempster (8-7, 3.71 ERA) has recorded back-to-back no decisions after Sunday's effort against NL Central rival St. Louis.  The 33-year-old was reached for three runs on nine hits (one home run) with four walks and four strikeouts over seven innings and 103 pitches. 

The Cubs eventually dropped that affair as a 116 home underdog, 4-3, while the combined seven runs slithered 'over' the 6 1/2-run closing total.  The 'over' has now cashed in his previous six starts.

Dempster is 2-0 this season with a 2.08 ERA in two starts versus NL West opponents, but this is his first outing of the year versus the Rockies.  The veteran hurler did help the Cubs beat Colorado last season as a 132 road underdog, 6-5.  The Canada native went six innings, surrendering five runs (two earned) on nine hits (one home run) with no walks and three strikeouts on 95 pitches.  The combined 11 runs went 'over' the nine-run closing total.

Chicago concludes a six-game road trip with this series hoping to improve on its 20-29 road record.  The Cubs have seen the 'over' go 7-3-1 the past 11 road games, and 9-1-1 in Dempster's previous 11 starts overall.

Colorado pitcher Jeff Francis (3-3, 4.56 ERA) picked up a no-decision for Sunday's effort against Philadelphia.  The British Columbia native tossed five solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts on 94 pitches.

The southpaw left the game after a rain delay, and the Rockies eventually dropped the game as a 128 road underdog, 4-3.  The combined seven runs failed to topple the nine-run closing total, ending a string of four straight 'over' outings for the 29-year-old.

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Francis has faced the Cubs five times during his career, posting an unsightly 8.77 ERA without recording a decision with the 'over' cashing each time.  His last effort versus Chicago occurred during the 2008 campaign when the Rockies lost as a 144 road underdog, 8-4.  The 6-foot-5 hurler went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits (one home run) with two walks and five strikeouts on 85 pitches.  The combined 12 runs eclipsed the nine-run closing total.

Colorado maintains a solid 31-18 record at Coors Field, and continues an eight-game homestand after this series with a pair of games against NL West rival San Francisco.  The Rockies are a dismal 7-15 the last 22 meetings with Chicago, while the 'over' has gone 10-4 the past 14 games in Colorado.

Friday's forecast for Denver calls for isolated thunderstorms, with a high of 86 degrees and a low of 66.