One of baseball’s best rivalries is renewed for the first time this season on Friday afternoon – the day’s only matinee – with the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the Chicago Cubs in what should be a sellout crowd at Wrigley. The Cubbies are short MLB betting favorites for Game 1.
How to Bet Cardinals vs Cubs MLB Betting Lines & Game Info
- When: Friday, 2:20 PM ET
- Where: Wrigley Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Jack Flaherty/Kyle Hendricks
- TV: MLB Network
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: The Score
- MLB Betting Lines: St. Louis Cardinals -120
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Why Bet on St. Louis?
Already in his young career, Mike Shildt has managed the Cardinals to 20 series wins over 31 total series including six sweeps. The 2018 club tied the franchise record winning 10 straight series from 7/27-8/30/2018. The Cardinals have yet to lose more than two straight games and already have two five-game winning streaks in 2019. The Cardinals won their 20th game of the season in their 30th overall game becoming the 10th Cardinals team with 20 wins in their first 30 games and the first since the 2015 team pulled off the club record marching out to a 22-8 mark.
The Cardinals lead the NL Central. That’s partly due to a huge start from outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Entering Thursday, Ozuna has 10 home runs, 29 RBI and 26 runs scored. He’s been arguably the third-best overall hitter in the National League behind Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich.
The Cards could get a boost to the bullpen Friday with the possible return of right-hander Luke Gregerson. He threw live batting practice Wednesday in Washington. He joined the team there after posting a 1.64 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 11 minor league rehab innings. Gregerson is on the injured list with a shoulder injury.
It’s Jack Flaherty on the mound. Flaherty is coming off his deepest start of the season so far, having worked seven scoreless innings in the Cardinals’ 5-2 win over the Reds on Sunday to close their nine-game homestand. He should be fresh though, having thrown only 89 pitches. The 7.0 scoreless frames marked the longest scoreless outing of his career.
Flaherty has not allowed a run in 12.0 innings this year pitching in day games. He has scattered 10 hits including one double in his two 2019 daytime tilts. He is holding the Cubs to a .170 average against, tied with John Tudor (13 G, 12 GS) for 2nd-lowest all-time among Cardinals who have made at least three starts against Chicago. Al Jackson (7 G, 3 GS) leads at .167.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.29
- Hits: 9.13
- Walks: 3.74
- Strike Outs: 8.74
Defense
- Runs: 4.16
- Hits: 7.61
- Walks: 3.68
- Strike Outs: 9.00
Why Bet on Chicago Cubs?
The Cubs are now 16-12 after starting the season at 1-6. The Cubs are 6-0-1 in their past seven series dating to April 8-11 vs. Pittsburgh, a run that started after the team dropped its first three series of the season, all on the road. Chicago was previously unbeaten in at least seven-straight series last season when it went 5-0-5 in 10 series of multiple games from July 31-September 2.
They bring a four-game winning streak into this one after sweeping two in Seattle to start the week. Javier Baez went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored as the Cubs routed the Mariners 11-0 on Wednesday. He did most of his damage in the second inning when he led off with a solo bomb and then slashed an RBI-double as the Cubs plated six runs in the frame. The star shortstop is playing at an MVP level again this year, slashing .314/.352/.653 with 10 home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored.
Willson Contreras went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored on Wednesday. Contreras a .301/.427/.663 slash line with eight bombs, 19 RBI and 19 runs. He is having a huge bounce-back season.
It’s Kyle Hendricks on the mound. Hendricks gave up a career-high seven earned runs last Friday against the D-backs. The right-hander put together a 1-2-3 second inning on three grounders, but otherwise, Hendricks had little luck on all the balls Arizona was putting into play against him. In his start before that, Hendricks struck out 11 against the Braves.
Hendricks has gone 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA (32 ER/85.1 IP) in 14-career starts against the Cardinals. He is 4-0 with a 2.58 ERA (11 ER/38.1 IP) in his last six starts vs. St. Louis, all Cubs wins. The Cubs are 8-0 in his last eight starts vs. St. Louis.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.71
- Hits: 8.96
- Walks: 4.29
- Strike Outs: 9.07
Defense
- Runs: 4.36
- Hits: 7.93
- Walks: 4.21
- Strike Outs: 9.39
Cardinals vs Cubs MLB Betting Trends
- Over is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings in Chicago
- Cardinals are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against an opponent in the National League conference
- Cardinals are 5-15 in the last 20 meetings in Chicago
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis’ last 5 games
- Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
- Cubs are 4-0 in Hendricks’ last 4 home starts vs. Cardinals
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs’ last 6 games against St. Louis
Expert Final Score Prediction for Cardinals vs Cubs
St. Louis Cardinals 4 – Chicago Cubs 3
