Cardinals vs. Cubs Pick
The host Chicago Cubs will be going for their sixth straight win Sunday afternoon when they host the St. Louis Cardinals at 2:20PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have listed the Cubs as a -160 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Cardinals are a +140 underdog and the over-under has not yet been set due to Wrigley Field wind factors.
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Lance Lynn (11-7, 3.01 ERA) will take the hill for St. Louis, while Chicago counters with Jose Quintana (10-11, 4.25). Lynn has a 1.16 WHIP with 142 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks over six innings in a 13-4 home win over the Reds his last start. He has a 3.02 home ERA in 14 starts. Quintana holds a 1.26 WHIP with 184 strikeouts in 169 1/3 innings. He surrendered two earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a walk over seven innings in an 8-3 home win over the Mets his last outing. Quintana has a 4.78 ERA in 14 home starts.
The Cardinals are 77-71 on the season and 35-39 on the road, while the Cubs are 82-66 and 45-32 at home. Chicago has won seven of the last 10 meetings and the over-under is 4-5-1.
On Saturday, the Cubs won their fifth straight game on the homestand as they knocked off St. Louis 4-1 behind 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball by Kyle Hendricks. Albert Almora was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, while Addison Russell hit a pinch-hit home run in his first at-bat off the disabled list. Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs. Wade Davis earned his 30th save.
The Cubs are rolling and are getting healthier, a scary combo as the playoffs near. With a dangerous lineup and Quintana pitching some of his best baseball since being acqured via trade in July, it looks like a team peaking at the right time. Lynn is an outstanding pitcher and often rises to the occasion, but he’ll have to be near-perfect not to get dinged up at Wrigley Field. We see no reason not to take Chicago.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO CUBS -160