The Chicago Cubs are ready to play their division rival St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The action can be viewed across the country on ESPN and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Chicago (-110) is coming into this one as the favorite over St. Louis (+100) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at +135 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and -155 for the Cardinals +1.5 runs.
The Cardinals are 53-51 straight up (SU) and 51-52 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 9.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.0 units (ATS). St. Louis has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Cubs have gone 60-44 SU this year and are 53-50 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 1.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 4.0 units ATS. Chicago’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
St. Louis games have an over/under record of 48-51-4 in 2018. Chicago has an over/under record of 49-53-1.
Kyle Hendricks will get the start for the visiting Cubs. The right-handed Hendricks (6-9, 4.05 ERA) has racked up 95 punchouts in 120 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 5.06 ERA against St. Louis this year (two starts).
The Cardinals are putting the ball in the right hand of John Gant (3-3, 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP), who has 46 punchouts and 27 walks this season. Gant is 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Chicago this year.
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitchers have yielded 4.3 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.45, a WHIP of 1.24 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.0. The bullpen has a 4.64 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 54 games against NL Central opponents, Cardinals starters have an ERA of 3.43 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.78.
The St. Louis hitters have put up 4.5 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .256/.330/.390 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Left fielder Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Jose Martinez have paced the Cardinals’ offense this year. Ozuna is hitting .269/.312/.384 with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs and 40 runs scored, and Martinez’s line is .295/.360/.462 with 13 homers, 59 RBIs and 36 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.16 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.23, along with a WHIP of 1.40 and a K/9 of 8.89.
Cubs hitters have slashed .265/.348/.422 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Javier Baez and outfielder Albert Almora Jr. have led Chicago’s offense. Baez is slashing .296/.327/.562 with 21 home runs, 77 RBIs, 65 runs and 19 stolen bases. Almora Jr. is slashing .307/.344/.421 with four homers, 30 RBIs and 50 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 7.2 units and are 38-40 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 38 of those games, compared to 39 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 7.0 units and are 37-38 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 32 of those games, compared to 39 that’ve gone under.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of St. Louis’ last seven games.
Chicago fielders have two errors over the last 10 games, compared to seven errors for St. Louis over its last 10.
The Cubs have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
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