Teams battling to stay in the National League Central Division race clash when the St. Louis Cardinals battle the Chicago Cubs in the second of a four-game series on Friday in Chicago. St. Louis won Thursday's game 7-2. The Cubs (45-51), third in the division, trail first-place Milwaukee by 8.5 games. The Cardinals (44-53), fourth in the NL Central, are 10 games back. St. Louis has been red hot, winning six in a row and eight of nine, while Chicago is 3-4 since the All-Star break.
First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 2:20 p.m. ET. Chicago is a -130 favorite on the money line (risk $130 to win $100) in the latest Cardinals vs. Cubs odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 8. Before making any Cubs vs. Cardinals picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered the All-Star break 46-34 (+194) on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks this season, going 11-2 (+604). Anybody following has seen big returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cardinals vs. Cubs and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several MLB betting lines and trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals:
- Cardinals vs. Cubs money line: St. Louis +110, Chicago -130
- Cardinals vs. Cubs over-under: 8 runs
- Cardinals vs. Cubs run line: Cubs -1.5 (+162)
- STL: The Cardinals have won four of six meetings this year
- CHC: The Cubs have a plus-33 run differential this season
- Cardinals vs. Cubs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Cubs
Chicago is expected to send left-hander Justin Steele (9-3, 2.96 ERA) to the mound. Steele has won three of his last four decisions, including a 10-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on June 30. In that game, he went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits, zero runs and one walk while striking out six. He is 2-0 against the Cardinals this season, winning 9-1 on June 24. In that game, he went six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, walking one and striking out eight.
Center fielder Cody Bellinger is among the Cubs' leading hitters. He has a four-game hitting streak and has hits in seven of his last eight games, including five multi-hit games during that stretch. He was 1-for-4 on Thursday after going 6-for-12 in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. For the season, Bellinger is hitting .310 with 12 homers, 35 RBI and 51 runs scored. See which team to back here.
Why you should back the Cardinals
Right-hander Jack Flaherty (7-5, 4.29 ERA) will start for St. Louis. He has been dialed in in his last four starts, picking up wins in each. In his last outing on Sunday, he earned an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals. He went six innings, allowing just three runs – all earned – on three hits. He walked three and struck out seven. In his only outing against the Cubs this season, he had a no-decision in a 6-4 St. Louis win on May 9. In that game, he pitched five innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and walking five with three strikeouts.
Offensively, St. Louis has been led by third baseman Nolan Arenado. In 93 games this season, he is hitting .287 with 19 doubles, 21 homers, 74 RBI and 46 runs scored. He was 1-for-5 with a double in Thursday's win. He has hits in four consecutive games and in five of six with multi-hits in four of those. Arenado is a career .263 hitter against Chicago with 11 doubles, one triple, 17 homers and 54 RBI. See which team to back here.
How to make Cardinals vs. Cubs picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Cubs vs. Cardinals, and which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has gone 46-34 on its top-rated MLB picks, and find out.
