The St. Louis Cardinals (5-6) and Chicago Cubs (15-7) battle in another doubleheader Wednesday with Game 1 starting at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. We analyze the Cardinals-Cubs betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Cardinals at Cubs: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Jack Flaherty vs. RHP Alec Mills
Flaherty won his only start of the season July 24 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team’s season opener. He allowed two earned runs, six hits and no walks with six strikeouts in seven innings in that outing.
- Flaherty threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes in his only outing, throwing first-pitch strikes to 17 of the 27 batters he faced.
- Flaherty posted a 2-1 record with 40 strikeouts and a sparkling .151 opponent batting average in 36 1/3 innings in six starts against the Cubs in 2019.
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Mills has made three starts for the Cubs so far this season, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 14 strikeouts across 19 innings.
- Mills allowed four earned runs, five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts across six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last time out on Aug. 14, his only non-quality start of the season.
- The Cubs pitching staff ranks seventh in the majors with a 4.02 ERA and fifth in the league with a 1.13 WHIP.
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Cardinals at Cubs: Key injuries
(List of injuries around the league)
Cardinals
- SS Paul DeJong (COVID-19) out
- C Yadier Molina (COVID-19) out
- OF Tyler O’Neill (finger) questionable
Cubs
- 3B Kris Bryant (wrist) out
- 3B Daniel Descalso (ankle) out
- OF Steven Souza Jr. (hamstring) out
Cardinals at Cubs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Cardinals 3, Cubs 2
Moneyline (ML)
The CARDINALS (-121) look to get back on track after dropping the past two. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Flaherty, as the Cards were out of commission from July 30 to August 14 due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
In fact, it has been 26 days since Flaherty has pitched, so there could be some rust. But he threw an extra bullpen session after the team’s 13-day layoff and is reportedly ready to go. No worries here backing Flaherty and the CARDINALS (-121) against the Cubs (+110).
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Cardinals (-1.5, +150) are not a recommended play, especially coming off two losses, but the Cubs (+1.5, -183) are also not the way to go. Plus, run-line plays are risky in doubleheaders with just seven innings scheduled. PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (+105) is the way to go in Game 1. Flaherty and Mills have both posted decent numbers, albeit in a small sample size. We’re scheduled for just seven innings in each end of the double dip, so lean to the Under.
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