ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cubs know that if they want to be considered a serious contender, they must prove themselves against the best teams in baseball. They get their chance against the Cardinals, who are the best team in baseball.
Chicago already took the season series from NL East-leading Washington and became the first team to beat the Dodgers in back-to-back games with their aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke starting. But the Cubs dropped four of the first six meetings with the Cardinals and have struggled in Busch Stadium over the last few seasons. The Cubs cashed the over in Jason Hammel’s last two starts and in five of his last six.
St. Louis is the most profitable team in the majors, improving their record to 48-24 following a three-game sweep of the Marlins, in the black 20.41 units on the moneyline. The Cards own the best home record as well at 26-7 up 16.49 units entering the weekend series. They took three of four from the Cubs at Busch Stadium in May, overcoming a deficit in two of the wins. The Cards are money with Carlos Martinez on the bump, going 11-3 in his 14 starts while the under is 5-0-1 in his last six outings.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.65 ERA) held the Dodgers to two hits over 7.2 scoreless innings Tuesday, getting a no-decision in a 1-0 Cubs victory. He deserved better but he set his team up for the win in a pitchers duel with Zack Greinke. Hammel is 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last five outings without allowing more than two earned runs in any of them.
Hammel owns a 6.10 ERA in four career starts against the Cards but hasn’t faced them this season.
Carlos Martinez (8-3, 2.89 ERA) allowed three runs in the first two innings at Miami on Tuesday then settled down to toss five scoreless picking up the win. He surrendered eight hits with nine strikeouts winning for the fourth time in his last five outings. He’s been an innings eater lately, working into the seventh in his past seven starts.
Martinez’s first career start against Chicago was his worst of the season when he allowed seven earned on nine hits over 3.2 innings on May 4. He tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the season opener and has a 6.43 ERA in 11 appearances.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We don’t make that big a deal about a sweep and we don’t make that big a deal if we have one or two get away from us. We just come back and play the game the next day and I think that’s a very simplified idea about how we go about our business.” – Cardinals manager Mike Matheny
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Making changes to your roster and the coaching staff doesn’t guarantee victories (hello, San Diego). But in the case of the Chicago Cubs, the improvement is in the numbers. After 71 games the Cubs are 39-32 with a .549 winning percentage, fourth-best in the NL and in place for the second wild card. In 2014 the Cubs didn’t get their 39th victory until July 10. The Cubs have been good in close games this season, winning a MLB high 18 one-run games, and their nine walk-off wins are also a league high. Their offensive numbers are up across the board and the pitching has been phenomenal. With their new manager, an infusion of young talent, a knack for winning the close ones, and a loose, upbeat clubhouse, the Cubs are in the hunt contending for a playoff spot.
PROP TALK
The Cardinals are starting to see the acquisition of Jason Heyward pay off. Heyward hit safely in all eight games of the teams recent road trip, raising his average 24 points with 14 hits. He homered in three straight games on the trip and totaled four in the eight games, nearly doubling his season total. He has at least one hit in the first six games against the Cubs and hits .458 against them this season. He owns Chicago starter Jason Hammel with eight singles in 14 trips for a .571 career average. Heyward has been a menace over the last few weeks and over his career against the Cubs. Look for him to be in the middle of any Cardinals rally.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
As much as Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t want his team pressing or trying harder in games with St. Louis, how do they not do that? Going up against the best team in baseball that also happens to be in your division, naturally makes you want to put forth a greater effort. If you can give 110 percent without tripping over yourself, why not do it. “The gap is repetition and experience,” Maddon said after the teams met in St. Louis in May. “They out-competed us in a sense, experience-wise, and that’s it. We will make it up.” The Cubs aren’t that far away from where the Cards are now and they are getting closer.
Chicago 4, St. Louis 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2015, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. The matchup can be seen live on ESPN.
