Cardinals vs. Cubs Pick
The St. Louis Cardinals and host Chicago Cubs will resume their series Saturday afternoon at 4:05PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have set the Cubs as a -148 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Cardinals are a +128 underdog and the over-under is 9.5.
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St. Louis will go with Michael Wacha (12-7, 3.99 ERA) on the mound, while Chicago turns to Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.35). Wacha has a 1.36 WHIP with 139 strikeouts over 149 innings. He threw eight shutout innings his last start, giving up five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 7-0 home win over the Pirates. Wacha has a 5.10 ERA in 12 road starts. Hendricks has a 1.20 WHIP with 103 strikeouts over 121 innings. He gave up three earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 3-1 home loss to the Brewers his last outing. Hendricks has a 3.42 ERA in 12 home starts.
The Cardinals are 77-70 on the year and 35-38 on the road, while the Cubs come in at 81-66 and 44-32 at home. Chicago has won seven of the last 10 meetings and the over-under is 4-5-1.
Friday afternoon’s game was won 8-2 by the Cubs as they posted a seven-run sixth inning. Kris Bryant was 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs. Jon Jay went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Ian Happ was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs off the bench. Carl Edwards Jr. picked up the win in relief after starter John Lackey and catcher Willson Contreras were both ejected for arguing a call with the home plate umpire. Carlos Martinez took the loss for St. Louis as he surrendered seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Stephen Piscotty was 2-for-4, while Tommy Pham added a solo home run.
The wind is blowing out to left field at Wrigley and that typically means the home run ball is fully in play. Wacha hasn’t been as sharp on the road, while Hendricks is typically solid but faces a lineup that is very familiar with him. We’re siding with the over.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CARDINALS/CUBS OVER 9.5