The streaking Chicago Cubs are seeking their seventh straight win as they play host to the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The matchup will be nationally broadcasted on ESPN. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 18-12 straight up (SU) and 15-14 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 2.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.6 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Cardinals have gone 20-13 SU this year and are 20-12 ATS. Overall, the club has accumulated 7.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 9.4 units ATS. St. Louis has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Cubs games have an over/under record of 16-12-1 so far in 2019. The Cardinals have an over/under record of 16-13-3.
Adam Wainwright will get the nod for the visiting Cardinals. The right-handed Wainwright (3-2, 3.73 ERA) has racked up 27 strikeouts in 31.1 innings so far. He has yet to face Chicago this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2018, putting together a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Cubs are handing the ball to lefty Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.48 ERA), who’s got 38 strikeouts and nine walks, along with a WHIP of 1.22. Quintana made four starts against the Cardinals in 2018, posting a 1-3 record with a 4.74 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 4.2 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.65, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 4.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 10.1 K/9. In eight divisional games, Cubs starters have an ERA of 5.13 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.34.
The Chicago hitters have put up 5.7 runs per outing, including 6.3 per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .249/.344/.481 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Shortstop Javier Baez and outfielder Jason Heyward have led the charge for the Cubs’ hitters so far. Baez is hitting .318/.353/.659 with 11 home runs, 26 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Heyward is batting .308 with five homers, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, St. Louis’ pitching staff allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 4.46 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.34 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.53, along with a K-per-9 of 10.74.
The Cardinals offense has slashed .264/.345/.433 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
St. Louis’ offense has been powered by shortstop Paul DeJong and right fielder Jose Martinez. DeJong is slashing .323/.389/.562 with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Martinez is hitting .364/.400/.511 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
The Cardinals have gained 0.0 units and are 3-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in two of those games, as opposed to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cubs have netted 1.3 units and are 12-10 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, compared to 10 that went under the total.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in three of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Cardinals have hit five home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 21 over their last 10.
- The Cardinals have a total OPS of .778 this season, including an OPS of .697 against left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS sits at .807 overall and .778 against lefties.
- Chicago has posted 23.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.0 over its last five.
