Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals odds and lines, with MLB expert picks and predictions.

The Chicago Cubs (50-51) and St. Louis Cardinals (46-57) tangle in the Thursday opener of a 4-game series in St. Louis. First pitch at Busch Stadium is slated for 7:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 5-4

Chicago is coming off a 2-game sweep of its South Side neighbors, the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs have won 5 in a row and 7 of their last 8. Over that stretch, they have cranked out a .920 OPS. The Cubs are 6 games out of the lead in the NL Central and 4 1/2 games back in the Wild-Card race.

The Cardinals are back at home after a 3-4 road trip. That trip opened with St. Louis dropping 3 of 4 to the Cubs July 20-23.

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Cubs at Cardinals projected starters

LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Miles Mikolas

Steele (10-3, 2.95 ERA) is tabbed for his 19th start. He has logged a 1.11 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: W, 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 4-3 win vs. Cardinals Friday
  • 2023 road stats: 3-1, 2.93 ERA in 7 starts (.650 OPS allowed)
  • Last 5 vs. Cardinals: 3-1, 3.86 ERA (2021-23)
  • Has yielded more than 2 runs in just 2 of his last 7 starts

Mikolas (6-5, 4.33 ERA) is making his 23rd start of the season. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 in 126 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 5 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 8-6 loss at Cubs Saturday
  • 2023 home stats: 2-2, 4.95 ERA in 56 1/3 IP
  • Last 5 vs. Cubs: 1-1, 3.56 ERA (2022-23)
  • Owns a 4.89 ERA since June 16

Cubs at Cardinals odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:51 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Cubs +102 (bet $100 to win $102) | Cardinals -118 (bet $118 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-210) | Cardinals -1.5 (+172)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 5, Cardinals 4

Moneyline

Steele has been a favorite of -127 or better in each of his last 5 starts. He owns a 3.52 ERA over his last 5 starts and that’s with a .341 batting average on balls in play. Over the last 2 seasons, has been quite sharp in the back half of consecutive games against the same foe.

The Cubs’ won-loss record does not compute. At 4.91 runs per game and 4.44 RPG allowed, they figure as due for a good 2d half (and are off to one).

The Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road-series openers. BACK CHICAGO (+102).

Run line/Against the spread

In winning 7 of their last 8, the Cubs have won by multiple runs 6 times. But PASS on the current tag.

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Over/Under

Criss-crossing signals here, and there’s no value in playing a small edge either way. PASS.

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