St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Cardinals @ Cubs – First Pitch: 7:40 p.m.
Matchup Overview: Cardinals vs. Cubs
Following Paul Goldschmidt’s three-home-run performance against the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals will look to stay in the win column as they face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Despite being preseason favorites, the Cardinals currently sit nine games back in their division. With the division not playing at a high level, there is still time for the Cardinals to make up ground, but they’ll face a tough challenge in the form of Mark Stroman.
Spread, Total, Moneyline, and Odds:
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | +1.5 | -174 | O 7 | +101 | +127 | Open |
| -200 | 7 | -110 | +107 | Current | ||
| Cubs | -1.5 | +145 | U 7 | -121 | -150 | Open |
| +166 | 7 | -109 | -127 | Current | ||
Projected Lineups:
Cardinals
Starting Pitcher: Miles Mikolas: 1-1, 5.79 ERA, 8.20 K/9
| 1. | RF | Lars Nootbaar | .297, 2 HR, 9 RBI |
| 2. | 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | .321, 7 HR, 20 RBI |
| 3. | 2B | Nolan Gorman | .255, 7 HR, 23 RBI |
| 4. | 3B | Nolan Arenado | .232, 3 HR, 18 RBI |
| 5. | DH | Willson Contreras | .265, 2 HR, 14 RBI |
| 6. | LF | Brendan Donovan | .268, 3 HR, 9 RBI |
| 7. | CF | Dylan Carlson | .235, 2 HR, 11 RBI |
| 8. | SS | Tommy Edman | .248, 5 HR, 14 RBI |
| 9. | C | Andrew Knizner | .205, 1 HR, 3 RBI |
Cubs
Starting Pitcher: Marcus Stroman: 2-2, 2.18 ERA, 8.27 K/9
| 1. | 2B | Nico Hoerner | .309, 2 HR, 19 RBI |
| 2. | SS | Dansby Swanson | .271, 2 HR, 9 RBI |
| 3. | LF | Ian Happ | .300, 4 HR, 18 RBI |
| 4. | CF | Cody Bellinger | .300, 7 HR, 19 RBI |
| 5. | RF | Seiya Suzuki | .259, 1 HR, 9 RBI |
| 6. | DH | Trey Mancini | .264, 3 HR, 16 RBI |
| 7. | 1B | Matt Mervis | .286, 0 HR, 2 RBI |
| 8. | 3B | Patrick Wisdom | .229, 11 HR, 21 RBI |
| 9. | C | Tucker Barnhart | .186, 0 HR, 2 RBI |
Pitching Matchup: Michael Wacha vs. Marcus Stroman
- Michael Wacha (Cardinals): 5.00 xFIP, low K rate, struggles against left and right-handed batters
- Marcus Stroman (Cubs): 3.71 xFIP, solid performance against left and right-handed batters
Wacha has struggled this season with a high xFIP and a low K rate. Both left and right-handed batters have taken advantage of him, posting .378 and .349 weighted on-base percentages, respectively.
Stroman, on the other hand, has been impressive this season, with a solid 3.71 xFIP. He has performed well against both left and right-handed batters, posting .291 and .263 weighted on-base percentages, respectively. Stroman’s ISO power numbers against both left and right-handed batters are below average, which bodes well for him in this matchup.
Betting Angle: Tread Carefully with the Cardinals
While the Cardinals may have found some momentum with Goldschmidt’s recent performance, bettors should be cautious about backing them against the Cubs. With Wacha struggling on the mound and Stroman performing well, it’s difficult to see the Cardinals as a solid betting option in this game. It’s unclear if they can make up the nine-game deficit in their division, but this particular matchup doesn’t appear to be in their favor.
Betting Insights:
Cardinals
- The St. Louis Cardinals are 1-9 (.100) on the road as an underdog in 2023
- The over hit in 5 of the St. Louis Cardinals last 16 games on the road in 2023
Cubs
- The Chicago Cubs are 4-1 (.800) at home as a favorite in their last five games in 2023
- The over hit in 1 of the Chicago Cubs last 5 games at home in 2023
Conclusion
The St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game presents a challenging betting landscape due to the Cardinals’ recent struggles and the Cubs’ solid pitching performance from Marcus Stroman. While the Cardinals may have found some momentum with Goldschmidt’s heroics, bettors should approach this matchup with caution. Keep an eye on both pitchers and the overall state of the division as you make your bets for this exciting MLB showdown.
