The St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs meet in game of their four-game NL Central division set in MLB action from Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon. These two teams have split the first two games of the set, who will earn a 2-1 lead on Saturday? Let’s dive in and find out.
St. Louis Cardinals Team Preview
The Cardinals have come out of the break playing with some purpose, but it was too little, too late in Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Cubs to fall to 44-54 on the year and 10 games back of the division lead in the NL Central. Nolan Arenado leads the Cardinals with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .286 batting average while Paul Goldschmidt has a team-high 106 hits while sharing the team lead in doubles with Willson Contreras, as both have 21 two-baggers this season. Miles Mikolas is slated to get the start for St. Louis here and is 6-5 with a 4.14 ERA and 83 strikeouts this season.
Chicago Cubs Team Preview
The Cubs have essentially been treading water in the second half of the season, sitting at 4-4 in the second half and improving to 46-51 on the year with Friday’s victory, but still sitting 7.5 games back in the NL Central. Nico Hoerner leads the Cubbies with 101 hits and 54 RBIs in addition to a .268 batting average this season while Patrick Wisdom has belted a team-high 17 home runs for the Cubbies this season. Michael Fulmer is expected to assume the opener role for the Cubs on Saturday and has a record of 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA and 46 strikeouts this season.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The underdogs have won six of the last seven games between the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the last seven games between the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in three of their last four games as home underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last four day games against National League opponents.
St. Louis Cardinals Team Facts
- The underdogs have won six of the Cardinals’ last seven games at Wrigley Field.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last 11 games after playing the previous day.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last three games as road favourites.
- The Cardinals have trailed after 7 innings in four of their last five games as road favourites against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Yan Gomes has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances with the Cubs as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 14 games against NL opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has hit at least one home run in each of the Cubs’ last two games as underdogs.
- Yan Gomes has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs’ last three games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Nolan Arenado has hit a home run in two of the Cardinals’ last three games as favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Willson Contreras has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven road appearances.
- Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cardinals’ last five games against NL opponents.
- Lars Nootbaar has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances with the Cardinals as road favourites against NL Central opponents.
- Nolan Arenado ranks 9th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.526) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 4th in the league for walks this season (350).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 26th in the league for doubles this season (142).
- The St. Louis Cardinals ranks 1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (93).
- The St. Louis Cardinals ranks 28th in the league for opponent batting average this season (.272).
Chris’ Pick
I’ve gone back and forth on this game, but I really still believe the Cardinals are the better play. They know the hole they’ve dug themselves in in the first half of the season, and while Chicago’s kind of in the same boat, I feel that from a roster perspective, the Cardinals are in the better position talent-wise to compete here and give themselves a legitimate shot as the second half progresses. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the Cardinals made a late-season push to crack the playoffs, and from this game alone, Mikolas has pitched better on the road this season and I think he can do enough to hold off the Cubs and let the Cardinals offense produce a win here. Give me St. Louis.
