Cardinals vs. Cubs Prediction
Will the Cubs stay hot and beat the Cardinals when the rivals open a new series at 2:20PM ET on Friday afternoon?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Cubs are -145 money line favorites versus the Cardinals, who have odds of +133 to pull off the upset at Wrigley. With Carlos Martinez set to face Jake Arrieta in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 runs.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats
From Rotoworld: Martinez allowed two earned runs over seven innings Sunday in a no-decision versus the Pirates. Martinez did his part, striking out five batters and issuing only one walk while scattering five hits, but Brett Cecil allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Bucs rallied to take the three-game weekend series at PNC Park. Martinez has a 3.36 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 133/46 K/BB ratio in 123 1/3 innings (19 starts) this season, yet his record is 6-8. He’ll face the rival Cubs on the road in his next scheduled outing.
Arrieta allowed two runs — one earned — in 6 2/3 innings to earn a 10-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday. He gave up four hits and three walks while striking out three in the ballgame. His only mistake came on a solo homer by catcher Caleb Joseph. Arrieta improves to 9-7 with a 4.17 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 19 starts. He has an excellent 105/38 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 108 innings.
Bet Today’s Cardinals vs. Cubs Game
OUR PREDICTION: The Cardinals are 1-5 in Martinez’s last six road starts and are winless in his last five starts overall. St. Louis is also winless in its last four games in Chicago and has dropped six of eight overall. The Cubs, meanwhile, are 6-1 in Arrieta’s last seven home starts versus the Cardinals and are 6-2 in his last five home outings versus St. Louis.
FRIDAY MLB PREDICTION: CHICAGO CUBS -145