The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Sunday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Chicago Cubs will send out Shota Imanaga for the start here and Imanaga is 8-4 with a 3.12 ERA and 70 strikeouts this season. In his career, Imanaga is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA and 16 strikeouts against the Cardinals. Sonny Gray will get the nod for the Cardinals here and is 10-5 with a 4.21 ERA and 141 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Cubs, Gray is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 40 strikeouts.
Chicago Cubs Recap
The Chicago Cubs come into this game looking to add on to their 9-1 win over the Cardinals from Saturday’s matchup to sit at 67-49 on the year. After this series, the Cubs will head on the road for a series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cubs Alternate Wins & Losses In 4 Straight
Ian Happ has 93 hits with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs. Kyle Tucker has 111 hits including 21 doubles, 4 triples, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs while Seiya Suzuki also has 107 hits with 25 doubles and 27 home runs and 84 RBIs of his own. Pete Crow-Armstrong also has contributed 115 hits, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 27 home runs and 78 RBIs as well this season. Dansby Swanson has added 18 home runs and 55 RBIs, while also having 130 strikeouts and Suzuki has 127 strikeouts so far this season. Crow-Armstrong also has a team-high 29 stolen bases while Nico Hoerner has 19 stolen bases this season. Tucker’s also added 23 stolen bases while Michael Busch has also chipped in 15 doubles, 3 triples, 21 home runs and 61 RBIs this season.
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Cardinals have lost each of their last seven Sunday games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Cubs have won each of their last four night games against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium following a road win.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last eight Sunday night games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven Sunday night games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Ian Happ has hit at least one home run in five of the Cubs’ last 13 road games against NL opponents.
- Shota Imanaga has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded a hit in each of the Cubs’ last eight games as road favorites.
- Shota Imanaga has recorded a win in four of his last five road appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded a Double in three of the Cubs’ last four games against the Cardinals.
- Kyle Tucker ranks 5th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.386) this season.
St. Louis Cardinals Recap
The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to rebound from their loss at the hands of the Cubs on Saturday to fall to 59-59 on the year. After this series, the Cardinals will play host to the Colorado Rockies for a series.
Cardinals Looking For Consistency Of Their Own
Brendan Donovan has a team-high 115 hits along with 24 doubles, 9 home runs and 43 RBIs while Lars Nootbaar has 80 hits with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, 16 doubles and 4 stolen bases. Nolan Arenado also has 85 hits with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBIs of his own and Victor Scott II has 75 hits with 13 doubles, a triple, 33 RBIs and a team-high 29 stolen bases. Willson Contreras has also chipped in 103 hits with 29 doubles, 16 home runs and 64 RBIs of his own as well this season. Masyn Winn’s added 106 hits with 24 doubles, 8 home runs and 42 RBIs and Alec Burleson’s added 100 hits with 19 doubles, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win
- The Cubs have lost each of their last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents following a win.
- The Cardinals have won 13 of their last 16 games as home underdogs following a home loss.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games following a win.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games as home underdogs following a home loss.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Sonny Gray has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last eight home appearances against the Cubs.
- Sonny Gray has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances with the Cardinals as home underdogs.
- Lars Nootbaar has hit a home run in two of his last three home appearances against the Cubs.
- Nolan Gorman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances in night games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Victor Scott II ranks T8th in the league in Steals (29) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cubs’ last five road games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Four of the Cardinals’ last five games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction
I’m on the Cubs here. I think the starters could cancel out here, but I just don’t trust this Cardinals team offensively. Furthermore, I think Imanaga’s not only the slightly better starter, but I think the Cubs’ bullpen can hold it down, and I trust the Cubs batting order more as well here. Give me the Cubs in this one.