Cubs vs. Cardinals Sunday Prediction
The Chicago Cubs have an opportunity to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals when the National League Central rivals clash again on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Are the Cubs a good bet to break out the brooms?
Game Snapshot & Odds
907 Chicago Cubs (-120) at 908 St. Louis Cardinals (+110); 8.5 runs
Sunday, June 17, 2018
8:05 p.m. ET, Busch Stadium
TV: ESPN
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Cubs as a -120 favorite. As of this writing, 56% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cubs to beat the Cardinals 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 allows two earned runs over six in last start
Jose Quintana allowed two earned runs over six innings Monday in a no-decision against the Brewers. Quintana gave up a pair of solo shots — one to Erik Kratz in the third inning, and the other to Jonathan Villar in the fifth — but he yielded just two other hits and the Cubs went on to win the game in extra innings. Quintana has looked sharp in three straight starts, lowering his season ERA to 4.09.
Cardinals’ Flaherty pitches well vs. Padres in last outing
Jack Flaherty held the Padres to one run over 6 1/3 innings Monday for his third win of the season. Flaherty looked a little shaky in the early innings, but he settled in as the night went on and ultimately yielded just three hits and a walk over his six-plus frames. He struck out six. The 22-year-old right-hander has a strong 2.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 48/11 K/BB ratio in 45 2/3 innings (eight starts) this season.
MLB Betting Trends
Chicago
The Cubs are 14-6 in their last 20 games versus the Cardinals.
St. Louis
The Cardinals are 4-1 in Flathery’s last five starts.
Prediction:
As mentioned above, the Cardinals have fared well when Flatherty pitches. That said, St. Louis is in the midst of a funk and I’ll be fading them tonight. They’re winless in their last four games, are 0-6 in their last six games versus a left-handed starter and have also dropped four straight at home. The Cubs, meanwhile, are 5-1 in Quintana’s last six road starts, are 4-1 in his last five outings overall and are 10-1 in his last 11 starts when he pitches the third game of a series.
The Pick: Chicago Cubs -120