Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions
Season series: Cubs lead 4-3
The Cubs dropped 2 of 3 at home to the Cincinnati Reds, avoiding a sweep with a 6-1 victory Wednesday as -123 favorites as the Under (7.5) hit in all 3 games. DH Seiya Suzuki (2-for-2, 2 RBIs) hit his career-best 27th homer. The Cubs are 11-9 over the last 20 games and have fallen 4 games behind the surging Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago has a 3½-game lead in the Wild Card race.
The Cards took 2 of 3 from the LA Dodgers in Los Angeles, taking the rubber match 5-3 Wednesday as +184 underdogs with the Under (9.5) cashing for the second time in the series.. RF Jordan Walker went 3-for-5 with an RBI -- a go-ahead single in the top of the eighth -- as he looks to be turning a lost season around. The Birds sit 5½ games out of a Wild Card spot. The rhetoric coming from them, though, is they're still trying to win despite selling at the trade deadline.
Cubs at Cardinals projected starters
LHP Matthew Boyd vs. RHP Michael McGreevy
Boyd (11-4, 2.34 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 over 130 2/3 innings.
McGreevy (3-2, 5.08 ERA) makes his seventh start (eighth appearance). He has a 1.23 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 5.3 K/9 through 39 innings.
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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 1:52 p.m. ET.
Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions
Cubs 5, Cardinals 2
Moneyline
Boyd is what flips the needle here. He has been so good against St. Louis, which totes a lefty-heavy lineup.
Give me CUBS (-150).
Run line/Against the spread
Suzuki is hitting .276 with 3 homers and 7 RBIs in 29 at-bats against the Cards this year. He's also 2-for-3 with a homer against McGreevy. Give me SEIYA SUZUKI OVER 1.5 H + R + RBI (-150).
Over/Under
It's slated to be 90 degrees with an 11-mph gust blowing out toward left field. The Over is 5-2 in this series this year. However, with the success Boyd has had against the Cards, I don't think we reach this number.
Take UNDER 8.5 (-118).
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