The Chicago Cubs (55-38) will try to increase their lead atop

the National League Central against the St. Louis Cardinals (48-46) on Thursday when they kick off the second half of the season as solid home favorites at the sportsbooks. The Cubs lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 2.5 games and the Cardinals by 7.5 for first place in the division thanks to a three-game winning streak.MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -150 favorites (wager $150 to win $100) Ken Griffey Jersey , according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark (line updates and matchup report).MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.6-3.9, Cubs (MLB picks on every game).Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week top sports betting news. Why the Cardinals can pay on the MLB linesSt. Louis underachieved in the first half and took action by firing manager Mike Matheny, replacing him with Mike Shildt on an interim basis through the rest of the year. The Cardinals should get a spark from the move, knowing that nobody's job is safe at this point.The players need to turn things around for the future, starting with pitcher Carlos Martinez (6-5, 3.08 ERA). The 26-year-old Puerto Rican has been viewed as a potential ace at times but needs to perform better and win more games. Martinez picked up half of his wins in his past four starts after seeing his ERA rise from 1.40 to 3.24.Why the Cubs can pay on the MLB linesChicago remains the best team in the NL Central even though Milwaukee has proved to be a worthy contender similar to last year. Like St. Louis, this team needs better pitching in the second half http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , and Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 3.92 ERA) is capable of settling in as the No. 2 starter behind ace Jon Lester.Hendricks did finish the first half on a positive note, giving up five earned runs and 17 hits in 18.1 innings with two walks and 13 strikeouts over his last three outings. He continues to be a better pitcher at Wrigley Field as well, going 3-5 with a 3.18 ERA in nine starts there this season. Smart betting pickThe Cardinals have dropped two of the previous three meetings with the Cubs after winning four of the first five to start the season, according to the OddsShark MLB Database. Chicago got off to a slow start though and has played well lately en route to posting the best record in the NL. The Cubs also lead the league in run differential at plus-114 and will begin the second half with an easy victory here.MLB betting trendsSt. Louis is 2-4 in its last six games The total has gone over in five of St. Louis' last six games.The total has gone over in four of Chicago's last five games.All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app. GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Reliever Michael Lorenzen has begun the Cincinnati Reds‘ mound-to-outfield experiment, pitching one inning and then moving to center field Monday in a game against the Cleveland Indians. It didn’t take long for the ball to find him.Lorenzen chased Jose Ramirez’s leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth inning of a 5-5 tie, his biggest test during his first time in the outfield.“It was fun http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey ,” Lorenzen said. “I didn’t necessarily get any fly balls but I had a couple hit to me. Hopefully next time I get to run one down.”The Reds are exploring options for replacing center fielder Billy Hamilton, who signed with the Royals. Lorenzen was a center fielder at Cal State Fullerton who also closed games on occasion. The Reds drafted him as a pitcher in 2013, and he has lobbied for a dual role in the majors.He finally got his chance Monday.Lorenzen came on to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning and retired all three Indians, two by strikeout. Instead of heading off to ice his shoulder, he looked for his batting helmet. He faced Mike Clevinger and struck out swinging, then replaced Nick Senzel in center field.He started shading Ramirez, the first batter, toward right field, then moved back the other way. Ramirez hit the ball to the gap in right for a double.“The game knows Nelson Cruz Jersey ,” Lorenzen said. “It was funny because I was actually shaded to right center. I ended up moving into left center.”In the seventh inning, Cleveland’s Eric Stamets went from first to third on a single to center. Lorenzen fielded the ball and threw to third too late.“I’d rather err on the side of overdoing it, that’s my personality,” Lorenzen said.Lorenzen left after his two innings in the outfield.First-year manager David Bell likes the option of using Lorenzen in center. After getting him ready to pitch during the first part of camp, Bell finally gave him a chance to play center.“That’s what we all wanted to see,” Bell said after the game. “It is just different. It’s all new to us. I’ve never been close to a pitcher who can do these things.”Lorenzen’s success as a hitter in the majors has inspired Bell to try to unusual, two-position arrangement.Last season, Lorenzen went 4-2 with a 3.11 ERA and one save in 42 relief appearances and three starts. He also batted .290 and led major league pitchers with four homers — including one grand slam — and 10 RBIs in 31 at-bats. As a pinch-hitter, he went 3 for 13 with two homers.Six times Carlos Ruiz Jersey , he entered the game as a pinch-hitter and stayed in to pitch. From June 24-30, he homered in three straight at-bats, including a grand slam. He became the first major league pitcher to homer in three straight at-bats since Colorado’s Mike Hampton in 2001.Senzel is a leading candidate for the job in center. He went 1 for 3 on Monday and is batting .381.NOTES: The Reds reassigned RHP Jimmy Herget, RHP Felix Jorge, RHP Keury Mella, RHP Alex Powers, OF Jose Siri and RHP Jackson Stephens to their minor league camp.