The Chicago Cubs (39-31, $546) will wrap up their trip into St. Louis on prime time when they take on the Cardinals (47-24, $1,941) on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball with each team looking to close out the series in the win column.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Cubbies have always given the Cardinals trouble, even during the last few years when the loveable losers were on the field in Wrigley. Now, of course, the teams are a bit more evenly matched, though the Cardinals are still the better team thanks to their MLB leading record.
Of course now, the Cubs are healthier than the Cardinals, but the injuries have not stopped St. Louis as they just go right on winning having won 14 of their last 20 games.
The Cubs, meanwhile, are trying to keep pace, having won four of five, but aren’t much better than .500 on the road this season at 19-17.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Carlos Martinez gets the start for the Cards in an effort to close out another successful series for the Red Birds.
Martinez has done more than hold his own this season, pitching to an 8-3 record with a 2.89 ERA and 1.260 WHIP through 87 1/3 innings of work.
He has now thrown seven straight quality starts and has lowered his ERA two whole points since it topped out at 4.89 back on May 9. On the year, Martinez has faced the Cubs twice, once in relief and once as a starter. Overall, he lasted just four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits with five walks.
The Cubs have yet to announce the pitcher that will be opposite Martinez, though it would be Jason Hammel’s spot in the rotation.
Hammel is having another good year on the North Side with a 5-2 record, 2.65 ERA and 0.938 WHIP, pitching as well as anyone in the rotation. Interestingly, he has missed the Cardinals so far this year, but in his career has struggled with a 6.10 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Talking about Martinez’s last outing, Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny noted despite the record, he still has work to do, saying:
“We talk about a step forward and a couple steps back, and the first couple innings were a couple back. You could just tell that he had high energy—which we don’t have a problem with—and he was having trouble separating that from how we was throwing. He was heaving, and if you look at the replays, those balls are in the middle of the plate…He settled down, though. In the third, I thought he was better, and those last three were probably his best.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
The conversation about the Cubs’ offense generally starts with Anthony Rizzo (.992 OPS) and Kris Bryant (.860 OPS), while filtering down to others like Addison Russell (.726 OPS), Miguel Montero (.785 OPS) and Dexter Fowler (.710 OPS) amongst others.
The team has a good number of talented players all of whom are expertly utilized by Joe Maddon. Few are better than Maddon at putting players in positions to succeed and he has gotten the most out of his collection of players, both the young stars and the veteran role players.
Of course, Matheny is no slouch of a manager either and he, too, has a balanced lineup of talented players several of whom have done wonders stepping up to fill in holes left due to injury.
Even so, the Cards do still have an All-Star studded infield with Kolten Wong (.791 OPS), Jhonny Peralta (.853 OPS) and Matt Carpenter (.869 OPS), combining to cover up the few holes this team does have. Of course Yadier Molina’s bat while not as powerful as in years past is still producing a .298 average and .343 OBP.
PROP TALK
With Hammel’s historical struggles against St. Louis, a number of Cardinals have hit the ball hard against him. Interestingly enough, though, the one player with the most success is a relatively new Cardinal in right-fielder Jason Heyward.
After a very slow start, Heyward’s bat is coming around for St. Louis as he is hitting .343 in his last 20 games with four of his nine hits leaving the yard.
So, combine that hot bat with a pitcher he has owned in his career to the tune of 8 for 14 and Heyward becomes a good bet to make when finding value with props.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Neither pitcher has fared well historically against their opponents, but both have been pitching well and that should continue.
Look for Cardinals’ baseball to win out in a close one. After all, St. Louis has the better defense—committing 13 fewer errors—and the better bullpen with a NL leading 2.09 cumulative ERA.
St. Louis 4, Chicago 3
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.
