The Chicago Cubs (10-3) visit the St. Louis Cardinals (2-3) for the opener of a three-game series at Busch Stadium Friday at 8:15 p.m. ET. We analyze the Cubs-Cardinals MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Thursday: The Cubs’ six-game win streak ended with a 13-2 drubbing at the Kansas City Royals. Meanwhile, the Cardinals return to action after having nine games postponed due to several players and personnel testing positive for COVID-19. They last played July 29 at the Minnesota Twins and enter on a three-game skid.
Cubs at Cardinals: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Jon Lester vs. RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon
Lester this season: 1-0, 0.82 ERA (1 ER, 11 IP) in 2 starts
- Last start: No-decision, 1 ER, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday – Cubs won 2-1 in 11 innings
- Last year: 13-10, 4.46 ERA (85 ER, 171 2/3 IP) in 32 starts
- 2019 vs. Cardinals: 1-1, 7.36 (9 ER, 11 IP), 12 K in 2 starts
- Career vs. Cardinals: 8-6, 3.26 (44 ER, 121 1/3 IP) in 20 starts
Ponce de Leon this season: 0-1, 6.75 ERA (3 ER, 4 IP) in 2 games (1 start)
- Last start: Loss, 3 ER, 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K at Twins July 29 – Cardinals lost 3-0
- Last year: 1-2, 3.70 ERA (20 ER, 48 2/3 IP) in 13 games (8 starts)
- Career vs. Cubs: 1 hitless, scoreless inning of relief in 2018
Get some action on this game or any other matchup in the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!
Cubs at Cardinals: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Cubs
- RP James Norwood (shoulder) out
- RP Brad Wieck (hamstring) out
- SP Jose Quintana (thumb) out
- 2B Daniel Descalso (ankle) out
Cardinals
- SS Paul DeJong (COVID-19) out
- RP Junior Fernandez (COVID-19) out
- RP Jordan Hicks (elbow) out for season
- SP Carlos Martinez (undisclosed) out
- SP Miles Mikolas (elbow) out for season
- C Yadier Molina (COVID-19) out
- SS Edmundo Sosa (COVID-19) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Cubs at Cardinals: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Cubs 4, Cardinals 3
Moneyline (ML)
The CUBS (-115) are the STRONGEST PLAY vs. the Cardinals (+105). Lester has been impressive in his two starts of 2020, yielding just one run over 11 innings. While he was tagged for nine runs in his two starts vs. St. Louis last season – four runs in six innings of a June win, and five runs in five innings of an August loss – he shouldn’t have a problem with the potentially rusty Cardinals Friday.
New to sports betting? A winning $10 wager on the Cubs will profit $18.70 – or every $1 bet profits $0.87 – whereas a $10 bet on the Cardinals profits $10.50 if they prevail.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS. Both teams have struggled vs. the run line so far this year. The Cubs (-1, +105) are 6-7 vs. the RL; the Cardinals (+1, -129) are 1-4.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 8.5 (-110) with a small-unit play. Expect St. Louis’ offense to scuffle early in its first game back since July 29. Once the Cubs turn to their bullpen and its awful 7.30 ERA, the Cards will rally but come up short,
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
| Johnny’s 2020 MLB record | 15-10 |
| 2020 overall record | 55-36-1 |
| Strongest plays | 29-15 |
Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and give us a like Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]