The Chicago Cubs have started their second-half surge a little early.
They’re looking for their sixth win in a row today, but they'll be underdogs in the MLB odds in the opening half of a day-night doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Read below for my free Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions, where my MLB picks see these offensively-challenged NL Central foes keeping it low-scoring.
Cubs vs Cardinals prediction
My best bet
Under 9 (-105 at DraftKings)
My analysis
The Chicago Cubs opened this four-game set with a 5-1 win on Friday night, giving them five wins in a row and seven in their last eight.
Pitching has been the story for them: in seven wins, Chicago has allowed six total runs. That includes back-to-back shutouts to close out the potent Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards before moving on to Busch Stadium.
The Cubs are already a Top-10 team in ERA at 3.78, but over the last week, that number has dropped to an MLB-best 1.33 — by far the best mark in baseball. The closest team to them are the Atlanta Braves at a 2.21 ERA.
Spot starter Hayden Wesneski will get the call today, making just his seventh start but 24th appearance on the season. Last time out, he threw 6 1/3 innings of one-hit ball, giving up no earned runs as the Cubs blanked the Angels, 5-0.
He’s faced the St. Louis Cardinals once this season, but in a relief role, and actually took the L for his lone inning of work as he was tagged for a home run in a game the Cubs lost 3-0.
The Cardinals’ pitching has been a little suspect during this three-game slide, as they’ve allowed 19 runs — and at least five in each contest — while putting up just 10 runs of their own.
St. Louis sports an ERA of 5.94 over the past week, and it doesn’t have the offensive chops to outscore its pitching problems. They’re a Bottom-7 team in runs scored, and are in the bottom half of the league in all the major hitting categories.
Lance Lynn will try to bail out the Redbirds, and after back-to-back wins where he allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings and fanned 11, Lynn turned in his worst performance of the year last time out.
He was firebombed in just 2 2/3 innings of work against the Nationals, giving up 10 earned runs on nine hits, walking four and getting taken yard three times in a 14-6 demolition.
Unfortunately, Chicago won’t be the lineup to exploit him. While slightly stronger than St. Louis, they’re also a bottom-half team that’s enjoyed a little surge lately while the pitching has been lights-out.
That’s likely why the Under has hit seven of the last eight between these two, and will again in Game 1 on Saturday.
Cubs vs Cardinals same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 9
Nico Hoerner 2+ total bases
Willson Contreras Over 0.5 hits
Nico Hoerner picked up a couple of hits and drove in two runs in Friday’s win. That gives him hits in eight straight games while picking up at least two total bases in three straight.
He’s got plus odds to top 1.5 total bases against St. Louis. Hoerner has been successful against Lynn in a small sample size, going 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Let’s wrap this SGP with Cardinals’ catcher Willson Contreras, who picked up a hit in the series opener, giving him hits in nine of his last 10 games.
He hasn’t faced the Cubs this year, but he was a tough out for them a season ago, going 13-for-34, a sharp .382 clip.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cubs vs Cardinals odds
Cubs vs Cardinals live odds
Cubs vs Cardinals opening odds
- Run line: Chicago +1.5 (-180) | St. Louis -1.5 (+135)
- Moneyline: Chicago +115 | St. Louis -135
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)
Cubs vs Cardinals spread and Over/Under analysis
- St. Louis has lost three straight as a betting favorite.
- The Under has cashed in five straight between the Cubs and Cardinals.
- Chicago has gone Under the total in six of its last seven.
Cubs vs Cardinals trend
The Cubs have won five straight games as moneyline dogs. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals
Cubs vs Cardinals game info
| Location: | Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO |
| Date: | Saturday, 7-13-2024 |
| First pitch: | 2:15 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Marquee, Bally Midwest |
| Cubs starting pitcher: | Hayden Wesneski (3-5, 3.68 ERA) |
| Cardinals starting pitcher: | Lance Lynn (4-4, 4.48 ERA) |
Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries
Cubs vs Cardinals weather
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