The Chicago Cubs will do battle against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET and the matchup will be shown on WLS, FSMW and ESPN.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 93-66 straight up (SU) and 77-81 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 1.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 4.3 units (ATS). Chicago has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Cardinals are 87-72 SU and have gone 83-76 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 3.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.8 units ATS. St. Louis is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has cashed in six of those seven.
Chicago games have had an over/under record of 70-85-3 in 2018. The Cardinals have an over/under record of 77-76-6.
The right-handed Adam Wainwright will get the start for the visiting Cardinals. Wainwright is 2-3 with a 4.08 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Chicago this year.
The Cubs are sending righty Kyle Hendricks (13-11, 3.49 ERA) to the mound. Hendricks has 159 strikeouts and 42 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.15. Hendricks is 2-0 with 15 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA across three starts against St. Louis this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.89 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.35 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 73 games against NL Central opponents, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.73.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .280/.347/.394 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Second baseman Javier Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo have led the Cubs’ batters this year. Baez is hitting .293/.329/.563 with 34 home runs, 111 RBIs, 98 runs and 21 stolen bases, and Rizzo is hitting .278 with 24 homers, 97 RBIs and 70 runs.
For the visiting squad, St. Louis’ pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.23 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.34, along with a K/9 of 8.35.
The Cardinals offense has slashed .249/.323/.411 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
First baseman Jose Martinez and outfielder Marcell Ozuna have paced St. Louis’ hitters. Martinez is hitting .306/.363/.459 with 17 home runs, 83 RBIs and 62 runs scored. Ozuna is hitting .279/.325/.434 with 23 homers, 87 RBIs and 69 runs scored.
The Cardinals have gained 1.5 units and are 59-53 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 48 of those games, as opposed to 59 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 2.3 units and are 59-64 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 54 of those games, compared to 66 which went under the total.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – OVER
