ODDS ANALYSIS
If the Cubbies are to be serious contenders in the NL Central they must prove it by beating the team widely considered the class of the division. They had a chance Monday in the series opener and let a five-run first inning lead disappear before succumbing with bullpen failures. The teams continue their four-game series Tuesday.
Chicago easily surpassed its run total from the previous four games while cashing the over for the first time in four contests with its 10-9 loss on Monday. The Cubs lost their third straight game and fourth in the last five down 4.20 units in that span. Chicago had totaled just six runs in its previous four games with its lone win being a 1-0 decision over the Brewers on Friday and the Cubs are 10-10-4 on the over/under this season.
Down 5-0 in the first inning wasn’t a problem for the Cards as they continue to roll by rallying for the 10-9 win Monday. The Cards won their seventh straight game and own MLB’s best record at 19-6 while being the most profitable at the betting window. The Cards are in the black 11.79 units on the moneyline through 25 games and have won 12 of 14 games at Busch Stadium.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 5.23 ERA) limited the Pirates to two runs over five innings on Wednesday but was handed the loss for his first decision in four starts. It was a rare wild outing for him as he matched a career-high with three walks.
Hendricks goes for his first win of the season when he takes the hill against the Cards, a team he has a 3.06 ERA and 0-1 record in three career starts against.
Tyler Lyons (0-0, NA) will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start against the Cubs. He gets a chance to fill the void left by Adam Wainwright after Tim Cooney flopped last week. The lefty was off to a great start in the minors with a 2.91 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 21.2 innings.
Lyons has served as a spot starter and long reliever for the Cardinals at various points over the last two seasons. He owns a 4.62 ERA in 89.2 career major league innings and is 0-1 with one start in four outings over 10.1 innings lifetime against Chicago.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We’re obviously not performing as we should as a whole. I can only speak for me, specifically, but getting deeper in the games as a staff, in particular, and keeping the team in the game, we have to start putting up some lower numbers overall. It’ll come. It’s still early and we’re still getting that feel. It’s starting to come around.” – Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Chicago’s bullpen was a strength earlier this season but the group has hit hard times recently, particularly set-up man Pedro Strop, who had been nursing a foot injury. Strop had 11 scoreless appearances covering 10.1 innings to start the season but has given up five earned runs in his last two outings. He was tagged with the loss Monday after giving up two hits and a walk without retiring a batter and watching all three players score in Chicago’s 10-9 loss. His foot injury may still be a hindrance and manager Joe Maddon might keep him out for a few games, but if Strop does enter you might want to fade him.
PROP TALK
Left-handed hitters are batting .343 against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks this season and the Cards have five of them who start, including second baseman Kolten Wong, who is the hottest hitter in the Cards lineup. Wong was given the day off Sunday but finished with three hits after entering the contest as part of a double-switch in the eighth inning. He ended the game with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 14th inning and followed with a pair of hits Monday in the Cards 10-9 win. Look for Wong to ignite the Cards offense with a few hits off Hendricks.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
When the pitching is good the offense is absent. And when you score runs the other team scores more. Such is the case when a team is slumping, and that’s where the Cubs are right now. Chicago matched its run total from the previous three games in the first inning on Monday scoring five times to take grab the lead. They gave four of the runs back in the bottom of the frame and a bullpen collapse in the seventh cost them the win. Look for the Cubs to keep the offense rolling against Tyler Lyons while Kyle Hendricks shuts down the Cards for the win.
There’s just something about the Cardinals and their Busch Stadium magic that makes you think they’re never out of a game. A three-game weekend walk-off sweep of the Pirates followed by a dramatic comeback against the Cubs Monday has them leading the Central by a wide margin just a month into the season. Sure there’s a lot of baseball left, but the Cards just to continue to produce victories. We don’t see this Cardinals team winning 123 games and the magic has to run out soon. It will Tuesday.
Chicago 6, St. Louis 4
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 Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
