Cubs vs Cardinals Betting Preview: Wind Blowing In at Wrigley

It’s a classic NL Central rivalry as the Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM ET, with Matthew Boyd taking the mound for the Cubs and Eric Fedde getting the start for the Cardinals. With wind blowing in and potential pregame weather delays, it’s a game that may favor contact hitters over sluggers.

The Cubs opened as heavy favorites (-200) and are now being bet up to -220 at some sportsbooks. The total sits at 7.5 runs despite the wind.

Cubs vs Cardinals Odds and Weather

Game Info:

• Matchup: Cardinals vs Cubs

• Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago

• Time: 6:10 PM ET

• Rotation Numbers: 955 / 956

• Cubs ML: -200 to -220

• Cardinals ML: +180 to +190

• Over/Under: 7.5

• Weather: Wind blowing in (10–15 mph), potential for a short delay

Despite weather conditions typically suppressing scoring at Wrigley, both pitchers today leave the door open for offensive value — especially for the Cubs.

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Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Eric Fedde’s Control Issues a Liability

Eric Fedde enters tonight’s start with major red flags for bettors:

• Strikeout Rate: 14.2% (well below league average)

• Walk Rate: 10.3% (high base traffic)

• xERA: 5.18

• HR/9: 0.97 (decent, but not elite)

Fedde’s inability to miss bats and limit walks makes him vulnerable to lineups that don’t rely solely on power. The Cubs are well-equipped to exploit this with their contact-heavy hitters.

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The Chicago Cubs may not rely on the long ball tonight with the wind blowing in, but they’ve got the bats to take advantage of Fedde’s weaknesses:

• Michael Busch, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Pete Crow-Armstrong are all capable of stringing hits together.

• With Fedde’s low strikeout rate, the Cubs could do damage with singles, doubles, and productive outs.

This is a matchup where line drive hitters and plate discipline matter more than raw power—and the Cubs have the edge.

Matthew Boyd, the lefty on the mound for the Cubs, has quietly turned in a solid campaign. He’s not flashy, but he’s effective:

• Keeps walks low

• Generates ground balls

• Minimizes damage

He’s especially dangerous to a Cardinals lineup that has struggled against left-handed pitching in 2024. Boyd’s ability to induce weak contact could neutralize hitters like Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado, especially with the wind in play.

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✅ Best Bets for Cubs vs Cardinals:

• Cubs ML (-200 or better) – Pricey but justified given pitching mismatch.

• Over 7.5 Runs – Despite wind, Fedde’s inability to escape jams gives this value.

• Cubs Team Total Over 4.5 – Target Fedde’s walk issues and low K rate.

• 1st Five Innings Over 4 – Early scoring possible before bullpens enter.

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Even with the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field, this is still a spot where the Cubs’ offense should thrive. Against Eric Fedde’s soft contact and free passes, expect Chicago to manufacture runs and take control of this divisional battle.

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