Cubs vs. Cardinals Friday Prediction
One of the best and oldest rivalries in baseball renews this weekend from Busch Stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals will host the Chicago Cubs. Will the Cubs avoid losing their third consecutive game tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
911 Chicago Cubs (-105) at 912 St. Louis Cardinals (-115); 8.5 runs
Friday, May 4, 2018
8:15 p.m. ET, Busch Stadium
TV: CHC (CSNC); STL (FSMW)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Cardinals as a -115 favorite. As of this writing, 57% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cardinals to beat the Cubs on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Cubs’ Quintana sharp vs. Brewers in last start
Jose Quintana struck out seven batters while shutting out the Brewers for seven innings during Saturday’s 3-0 win. He allowed Lorenzo Cain to reach third base with nobody out in the fourth inning but was able to strand him right there. Quintana surrendered just two hits and one walk in the gem outing. He has made five starts this year, three very bad ones and two very good ones — with both good ones coming against the Brewers.
He has thrown 13 scoreless innings this year versus Milwaukee, and allowed 17 runs in 13 2/3 frames in his other starts. Overall he is 3-1 with a 5.71 ERA.
Mikolas continues to be impressive for Cards
Miles Mikolas yielded two runs over seven innings Friday in a no-decision against the Pirates. Mikolas held the Pirates scoreless until Gregory Polanco took him deep in the sixth. Greg Holland blew the lead in the ninth inning, but that doesn’t diminish what was another impressive outing.
Mikolas allowed six and struck out seven while walking none. He now has a stingy 27/2 K/BB ratio in 33 innings to go along with a 3.27 ERA through five starts. With his interesting arsenal and an ability to pound the strike zone, Mikolas should be owned in most fantasy leagues at this point.
MLB Betting Trends
Chicago
The Cubs are 9-2 in their last 11 games versus the Cardinals and are 5-2 in their last seven road games overall.
St. Louis
The Cardinals are a perfect 4-0 in their last four home games, which includes back-to-back wins at Busch Stadium against the Chicago White Sox this week.
Prediction:
The Cubs have been a strong bet when Quintana starts. They’re 4-0 in his last four outings, 4-1 in his last five starts coming off five days of rest, and are a perfect 8-0 in his last eight starts when facing National League Central rivals. The Cardinals have won six of their last 10 overall and beat the White Sox in a two-game set but their offense stinks right now outside of Tommy Pham and Yaider Molina. Some guys (Matt Carpenter, Marcell Ozuna) have shown recent signs of breaking out of their slumps but I see this as a good opportunity to bet the Cubs at a cheap price.
The Pick: Chicago Cubs -105