Cardinals Slowly Heating Up as Rival Cubs Visit
Cubs vs Cardinals Predictions Favor Chicago
The suddenly resurgent St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday (8:15 p.m. ET) at Busch Stadium. This is the first of 13 meetings between the MLB National League Central rivals this season.
MLB oddslist Chicago -1.5 (+130) on the run line and -135 on the moneyline, with St. Louis +1.5 (-155) and +114. Meanwhile, the projected total is 7.5 with a slight edge to the Over at -115 odds.
Can the Cubs take care of business? We break down both teams to help you make your Cubs vs Cardinals predictions.
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The Chicago Cubs are 25-26 against the run line, including just 2-10 over their last 12 games. They have been a liability for Over/Under bettors, going 21-28-2.
The Over/Under, they are 23-24-2.
That’s important to when making your Cubs vs Cardinals predictions.
📅Day/Time:
📊Records: Cubs (27-24)/Cardinals (23-26)
📍Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
📺Streaming: FUBO, ESPN, Marquee, Fox, FS1
Cubs Go South
Chicago has cooled down after a hot start. It is just 9-12 in May (5-16 against the run line), having dropped seven of its last 10 games to fall to 27-24. The Cubs went 2-5 during their recent homestand against Pittsburgh and Atlanta, including a 3-0 loss to the Braves on Thursday in which they managed only three hits.
Projected for 84.5 wins, the Milwaukee, which is 3.0 games ahead at 28-21.
Chicago has been middle-of-the-pack offensively, ranking 15th in runs and 18th in homers. Some of their most proven hitters — including Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ — have yet to heat up, which has only increased the pressure on some of the lesser-known commodities.
With a minus-1 run differential, more regression could be coming.
Nevertheless, oddsmakers remain bullish of their prospects. The Cubs are +130 favorites to win the National League Central and +1300 to win the pennant, the fourth-best odds behind Philadelphia (+380). Milwaukee (+1500) is the only other club with better than 20/1 odds.
Redbirds Trending Up
St. Louis has played better of late, winning eight of its last 10 games to climb back within three games of .500. At 23-26, St. Louis now trails first-place Milwaukee by 5.0 games.
The Cardinals are 5-1 on their current nine-game homestand, including a three-game sweep of Baltimore. Still, they will need to continue playing better to match expectations.
St. Louis’ biggest issue has been the underperformance of its big-name hitters. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, both perennial All-Stars, are off to career-worst starts. Each has an OPS under .700, with only 22 extra-base hits (seven home runs) between them.
As a team, the Cardinals rank 28th in runs and 26th in homers. Their minus-43 run differential is third worst in the NL, ahead of the last-place Marlins (-82).
Despite that, oddmakers haven’t given up hope. The Cardinals maintain decent odds (+650) of winning the division and are also +4000 to win the pennant.
This is what we mean when we say, “It’s a beautiful day for baseball.” pic.twitter.com/QBdb4RE1YW
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2024
Series Probables
⚾Game 1⚾
- Friday, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Shota Imanaga vs Miles Mikolas
Imanaga, a prized import from Japan, has emerged as one of baseball’s best pitchers. The 30-year-old lefty is 5-0 with a Major League leading 0.84 ERA, having allowed one run or fewer in seven of his first nine starts. He tossed seven shutout innings in his last start, a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh on May 18.
Imanaga’s climbed to +400 for NL Cy Young, second on the odds board behind Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler (+330).
The Cardinals will counter with Mikolas, who is 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA. Mikolas has been hit particularly hard at home, allowing 14 runs over 20 innings. Home runs (nine allowed) have been a big issue.
Be sure to keep that in mind when making your Cubs vs Cardinals predictions.
⚾Game 2⚾
- Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET
- Jameson Taillon vs Matthew Liberatore
Taillon has a 2.20 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in six appearances since returning from the injured list on April 19 with a back injury. He’s failed to work five innings in each of his last two starts, losses to Atlanta and Pittsburgh.
He will face Liberatore, who has a 5.40 ERA in 16 appearances (three starts). The 24-year-old southpaw has served as an opener recently, topping out at 70 pitches in his last outing against Boston on May 19.
⚾Game 3⚾
- Sunday, 7 p.m. ET
- TBD vs Sonny Gray
Gray has been St. Louis’ most dependable starter, going 6-2 with a 2.87. He’s won three of his last four starts despite allowing 14 runs (12 earned) across 23.2 innings in May. The three-time All-Star is +2000 to win his first Cy Young, one of 11 pitchers priced 20/1 or better.
The Cubs have yet to name a starter opposite him. Stay tuned for MLB player updates.
For Point Spreads Sports Magazine
