ODDS ANALYSIS
St. Louis gave the rest of the National League some hope with a season-long four-game losing streak. But while the Cards struggled on the offensive end, they were able to take the final two games of a home set with San Diego with some impressive pitching. St. Louis totaled 11 runs over its last six games, cashing the under in each of the last three.
The under is 7-3 in the Cards’ last 10 games with both playing below the scoreline when the teams met in Chicago in early April. The Cardinals remain the most profitable team in MLB, up 20.28 units overall on the moneyline, however the Cards are just 2-5 in seven road starts made by John Lackey, down 3.65 units.
The Cubs haven’t put up much of a fight this season against the Cardinals, losing seven of nine games, but enter this series playing good baseball. Following a three-game sweep in St. Louis last week, the Cubs won five of their last six giving up five runs total in that stretch. Chicago cashed the under in two of three games over the weekend against Miami and the under is 9-1 in the Cubs’ last 10 home games and 25-10-3 at Wrigley Field this season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
John Lackey (6-5, 3.30 ERA) gave up two runs on seven hits over seven innings taking the loss at home to the White Sox on Wednesday. He’s tossed at least seven innings in his last four starts with a 2.17 ERA, but has struggled on the road going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in seven starts this season.
Lackey is 2-0 against the Cubs this year, having allowed just three runs over 14.2 innings in two home starts. He picked up a loss in his only outing at Wrigley Field last year, despite allowing just two runs in 6.2 innings.
Jon Lester (4-6, 3.74 ERA) tossed seven scoreless innings striking out seven in his best start of the season Wednesday. Granted it was against the light-hitting Mets, but Lester put some recent struggles behind him. He makes his 10th start at Wrigley Field in search of his first win since May 16. He’s 0-4 in eight starts since then.
Lester was touched for eight hits and three runs in a season-opening loss to the Cardinals and is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA over two starts against them this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“What means a lot is Monday's game. I will only concede you that. Honestly, I don't look at it in clumps. I won't get into that. I try to stay with the daily approach. I know you are supposed to be more concerned about winning within the division. ... But I want our guys to just really approach the day. That's it.” – Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
In an attempt to shake up his lineup in the midst of an offensive funk, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny plugged Tommy Pham, summoned from Triple-A on Friday as part of the team’s quest for more offense, into the leadoff spot, where he doubled and scored the tying run in the sixth inning then came home as the winning run in the Cards’ walk-off win over San Diego on Saturday. Pham hit leadoff Sunday and again played a major role in St. Louis’ win, driving in all three runs with his first career home run and an RBI double. It was a bold move by Matheny putting a hitter with zero major league hits at the top of the lineup, but his recent hot streak in Triple-A was enough to give him a chance. The Cardinals are 34-5 when they score more than three runs. Problem is they have plated two or fewer runs seven times in their last 17 games.
PROP TALK
Jason Heyward is starting to feel comfortable in the middle of the Cardinals order and his average has soared for the first time since the first week of the season. Heyward’s numbers could improve facing Jon Lester, who he hits .533 against in his career with a homer. Heyward is also 14 for 35 (.400) against the Cubs in the season series with four hits in nine at-bats during the first series of the season at Wrigley Field.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Cubs have been embarrassed by the Cardinals this season and as much as manager Joe Maddon says it’s just another game, it isn’t. If St. Louis is to be had now is the time and the Cubs are playing at home, which gives them hope. Jon Lester needs to start pitching like the ace he’s paid to and supposed to be and its games like this where he can put the struggles of the season behind him, at least until his next start. Cards’ starter John Lackey has been roughed up on the road this season and with the Cubs having the edge of playing in the friendly confines, they strike first in the series with a tight win.
Chicago 4, St. Louis 2
BookMaker will send out the baseball odds for this marquee matchup before any other sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will take place Monday, July 6, 2015, at 8:05 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. The matchup can be seen live on ESPN.
