The Chicago Cubs (23-21) and St. Louis Cardinals (25-19) play the second of a three-game set Saturday at Busch Stadium with a 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cubs vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Adbert Alzolay is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs. He is 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 over 37 IP through 7 starts.
Alzolay has struggled with the long ball recently. He had yielded just one homer in 16 innings over three starts from April 12-29. He has coughed up five homers in 16 innings in his three outings so far in the month of May.
RHP Miles Mikolas is the projected starting pitcher for the Cardinals. Mikolas is set to make his season debut, and his first appearance since the 2019 playoffs due to forearm and shoulder injuries.
Mikolas was 0-2 with a 1.85 ERA across four starts in 2019 against the Cubs, his last appearance against Chicago.
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Cubs at Cardinals odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cubs -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Cardinals -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Cardinals +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (Over -105 | Under -115)
Prediction
Cubs 6, Cardinals 5
Money line (ML)
The CUBS (-105) are short ‘dogs despite the fact they’re coming off an impressive 12-3 victory in the series opener on Friday night.
In addition, Chicago will be facing a pitcher who hasn’t pitched in the majors since Oct. 2019 during the postseason, as Mikolas missed the 2020 season due to a forearm injury, and the first seven weeks this season due to a shoulder ailment. There should be rust for Mikolas, and that works to the benefit of the visitors.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The CARDINALS +1.5 (-190) isn’t a bad play if you want the home side and a little bit of insurance. I don’t like Mikolas in this one, and he’ll likely be on a pitch count.
However, I also don’t like the fact that Alzolay has been so giving in the home run department, so I think the Cards can certainly hang around here.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 8.5 (-105) is the play, again, because of the expected rust for Mikolas, as well as Alzolay’s penchant for serving up the long ball. The Over hit on Friday night, and it will hit again in this one.
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