The Chicago Cubs (51-51) and St. Louis Cardinals (46-58) meet Friday for the 2nd contest of a 4-game series in St. Louis. First pitch at Busch Stadium is slated for 8:15 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM 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 6-4
The Cubs won Thursday’s lid-lifter 10-3. They have won 6 in a row and 8 of their last 9.
St. Louis is 2-2 in its last 4, taking 2 of 3 at the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle of the week. Prior to that series, the Cardinals visited Wrigley Field for a 4-game set. They won the opener, but dropped the final 3 games. So, they have now lost 4 in a row to the rival Cubs.
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Cubs at Cardinals projected starters
TBD vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery
Reports have Cubs RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-3, 4.75 ERA) getting called up from Triple-A Iowa to make his 11th start with the big club this season. He owns a 1.20 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 in 60 2/3 innings across 15 appearances.
- Last pitched for Cubs July 2, working 2 scoreless relief innings; optioned 2 days later to Iowa where he logged a 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 11 IP after being sent down
- 2023 MLB road stats: 1-2, 5.52 ERA (31 IP, 19 ER) in 7 games (6 starts)
- Career vs. Cardinals: Pitched 2/3 innings June 25, marking his only appearance against the Redbirds (0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB 2 K)
Montgomery (6-8, 3.37 ERA) makes his 21st start. He has a 1.23 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 115 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 7 R (5 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 7-2 loss at Cubs Sunday
- 2023 home stats: 4-3, 3.39 ERA (58 1/3 IP, 22 ER) in 10 starts
- Last 5 vs. Cubs: 3-2, 3.00 ERA (2022-23)
- Clocked 1.17 ERA across 5 starts prior to his last (June 20-July 18)
Cubs at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:16 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cubs +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Cardinals -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-160) | Cardinals -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Cardinals 5
Moneyline
At 4.96 runs per game and 4.42 run per game allowed, the Cubs are deserving of a better record. Friday’s mound matchup does not put the Cubs’ best foot forward, but Wesneski may be a tad overlooked.
Montgomery figures to be slightly overrated, based both on his season line and in recent turns (.234 batting average on balls in play has buoyed a July ERA of 2.74). Expected-ERA figures peg the southpaw as being due some regression.
While BetMGM offers a Cubs (+120) ML line, look to FanDuel Sportsbook to BET CUBS (+130) at a tag with better leverage.
Run line/Against the spread
Avoid the extra juice here. PASS.
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Over/Under
The Montgomery fade and Cubs starter situation makes for an OVER 9 (-120) play. Mix in 2 second-division bullpens, some potential fatigue at the back end of the Cubs ‘pen, and a sultry St. Louis evening with an outward breeze in the forecast.
BET OVER 9 (-120).
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