The Chicago Cubs will be squaring off against their division rival St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox and the game gets underway 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Chicago (-110) is the favorite against St. Louis (+100) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at Cubs -1.5 runs (+135) and Cardinals +1.5 runs (-155).
The Cardinals are 36-31 straight up (SU) and 31-35 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.5 units for moneyline bettors and 4.1 units (ATS). The Cubs have gone 39-27 SU this year and are 33-32 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 2.3 units for moneyline gamblers, but have gained 1.7 units ATS.
Cardinals games have had an over/under record of 25-37-4 so far in 2018. Cubs games have gone under 38 times, gone over 26 times and pushed on one occasion.
Kyle Hendricks is getting the nod for Chicago. The right-handed Hendricks (4-6, 3.48 ERA) has racked up 61 strikeouts in 77.2 innings so far. This is his first outing against St. Louis this year. He did make three starts against the Cardinals in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record against them with a 2.70 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
The Cardinals are handing the ball to righty Carlos Martinez (3-3, 2.50 ERA), who’s got 57 strikeouts and 34 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.28. Martinez made five starts against the Cubs in 2017, putting together a 1-1 record with a 4.25 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 4.1 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.27 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.45 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.8 K/9. In 35 games against NL Central opponents, Cardinals starters have an ERA of 3.42 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.30.
St. Louis’ offense has put up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .268/.301/.405 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Cardinals’ batters have been led by first baseman Jose Martinez and left fielder Marcell Ozuna. Martinez is hitting .321/.389/.517 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs and 32 runs scored, and Ozuna’s line is .291/.338/.434 with nine homers, 38 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 3.5 runs per game and its starters own a 3.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.10 K/9. The bullpen has managed an outstanding ERA of just 2.71, along with a WHIP of 1.27 and a K-per-9 of 9.31.
Cubs hitters have slashed .260/.343/.420 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Chicago’s offensive production has been fueled by third baseman Kris Bryant and left fielder Albert Almora Jr.. Bryant is slashing .285/.391/.494 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 37 runs scored. Almora Jr. (.321/.369/.439) has produced two homers, 19 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 4.8 units and are 25-26 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 20 of those games, as opposed to 30 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have lost 1.1 units and are 23-27 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 18 of those games, compared to 28 that went under the total.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in only two of St. Louis’ last seven games.
The Cardinals have dropped four of their last five games SU.
St. Louis has posted 22.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.4 over its last five.
The Cubs have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.
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