Cubs vs. Cardinals Friday Prediction
One of the best rivalries in baseball will be renewed at Busch Stadium this weekend where the St. Louis Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs at 8:15 p.m. ET. Given Friday night’s pitching matchup, is the under a good bet?
Game Snapshot & Odds
907 Chicago Cubs (-113) at 908 St. Louis Cardinals (-105); 8 runs
Friday, June 15, 2018
8:15 p.m. ET, Wrigley Field
TV: CHC (ABC 7); STL (FSMW)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Cubs as a -113 favorite. As of this writing, 51% 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’ Lester allows one hit in seven shutout innings vs. Bucs
Jon Lester allowed just one base hit while firing seven shutout frames to beat the Pirates on Saturday. A third-inning triple by rookie Austin Meadows was the only mark in the hit column for the Pirates in the ballgame. Lester struck out five and walked two as he improved his record to 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 13 starts. The veteran left-hander’s performance sputtered last year but he has planted himself firmly in the Cy Young conversation so far in 2018.
Cardinals’ Wacha limits Reds to two runs in win
Michael Wacha allowed two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings in Saturday’s win over the Reds. Wacha flirted with a no-hitter in his last start, a domination of the Pirates, but he posted a more modest output in Saturday’s followup showing. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out six and walked three on the afternoon, with a two-run home run off the bat of Eugenio Suarez in the fourth inning the only blow to mar the scoreboard on his watch. With this win under his belt, Wacha improved to 8-1 on the season. He’ll carry a slick 2.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 67/30 K/BB ratio (76 2/3 frames) into a home showdown with the Cubs in his next turn through the rotation.
MLB Betting Trends
Chicago
The Cubs are 1-4 in their last five games versus the Cardinals and are 2-5 in Lester’s last seven road outings versus St. Louis. That said, the Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last five starts versus the Cardinals overall.
St. Louis
The Cardinals have dropped eight of Wacha’s last 10 starts against the Cubs.
Prediction:
I like the under. The Cardinals offense has been horrendous over their last nine games and they’ll be without one of their only good hitters this weekend when Jose Martinez is placed on the paternity list. Wacha and Lester are both have good seasons and I expect both to pitch well on Friday night. The under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two teams at Busch Stadium, is 9-3-2 in Lester’s last 14 starts versus the Cardinals, and is 3-0-1 in Wacha’s last four outings versus the Cubs.
The Pick: Cubs/Cardinals under 8