Chicago Cubs (46-48) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (47-47)
July 21, 2021 8:15 pm EDT
The Line: St. Louis Cardinals -103 / Chicago Cubs -107; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Wednesday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. This will be the third installment in a four-game set between these rivals this week. The Cardinals bagged a five-run win on Monday in the opener, then on Tuesday the Cubs posted a wild comeback win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Chicago notched nine team hits on Monday in the opener, but also had four errors in an 8-3 defeat. In the Tuesday game two, the Cubs logged six runs in the ninth inning during a comeback 7-6 result. Trevor Williams had 5.0 innings with seven hits and four earned runs.
For the starter job on Wednesday, the Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound. So far this year Hendricks has 111.0 innings with 117 hits, 49 runs (45 earned), 20 homers allowed, 23 walks, 84 Ks and a 3.65 ERA.
Over on the Cardinals’ side, they scored four runs in the fourth inning Monday and never looked back during the win. In the Tuesday game, St. Louis had 10 hits in the losing effort. Johan Oviedo managed 5.0 innings with three hits and one earned run.
For Wednesday’s starter role, the Cardinals will send Adam Wainwright to the hill. Across his 111.2 innings this year Wainwright has 96 hits, 47 runs (46 earned), 15 homers allowed, 32 walks, 106 Ks and a 3.71 ERA.
The Cubs are 1-4 in their last five in game three of a series and 8-21 in their last 29 overall. Chicago is 2-9 in their last 11 versus a right-handed starter and the over is 3-1-1 in the last five Wednesday games.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 5-2 in the last seven in game three of a series and 3-12 in the last 15 versus the NL Central. St. Louis is 11-3 in their last 14 with a total of 7.0-8.5 and the under is 4-1 in their last five in game three of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Cubs. Wainwright is coming off a couple of up-and-down outings, giving up seven earned on 12 hits over his last 11.0 innings. It’s worth noting that he’d been on a good run before that, however. As for Hendricks, he’s given up four earned over his last 18.1 innings across three starts and hasn’t surrendered a homer yet this month. I like both guys to pitch well here in a tight Cubs victory. Should be a fun one.
