The Chicago Cubs were tied with the Minnesota Twins for the best record in the game heading into Thursday’s MLB betting slate. However, David Ross’s troops accumulated their impressive 10-2 SU record against a cast of opponents that’s collectively attained a 14-33 SU record to this point. So who exactly are the Chicago Cubs? That question will likely be answered throughout this big weekend set against the St. Louis Cardinals; a team that ended their playoff hopes a short season ago. Kyle Hendricks will look to show well on the road for the first time this season in Sunday night’s series finale, while Dakota Hudson will attempt to bounce back from his horrific season debut against what’s since proved to be a punchless Pirates offense. Look for the Cubs to be installed short road chalk with the total lined between 8-9 runs.
First pitch for the game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2020, at 7:08 p.m. ET from Busch Stadium. The matchup will be shown live on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast. You can bet on MLB Odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
Odds Analysis
It’s quite telling that Chicago’s odds to win the World Series haven’t changed the slightest at online sportsbooks regardless of the fact that the team has gotten out to the best start of all entrants in the National League. Their rate of return opened at +2200 and remains there through 12 played games. With the Cardinals bringing the coronavirus into their clubhouse due to a handful of players deciding to go to a casino, St. Louis has only played a total of five games. With that, it comes as no surprise to see their payback on the incline with it up to +4000 after initially hitting the board 22-1. Chicago’s won three of four on the road for a +$161 return on investment, while St. Louis won its series home opener against Pittsburgh for a modest $25 return for MLB bettors.
Probable Pitchers
Kyle Hendricks: The book on Hendricks has been exceptionally easy to read through the right-handers first three starts. You back him on the road and fade away when toeing an opposing bump. He dominated both the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals at home in tossing 16 combined innings of 10 hit and 2 ER ball to log a pair of wins, but got his salad tossed in the GAB versus the Reds who got to him for seven hits (1 HR) and 6 ER through just 4.1 innings of work. Lifetime against the Redbirds, “The Professor” checks in 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, but his .510 BAA is concerning to say the least with Matt Carpenter, Kolton Wong and Paul Goldschmidt each having individual success against him.
Dakota Hudson: The righty’s 2020 debut was one to forget and sweep under the rug after allowing the Buccos to rake him for seven hits (2 HR) and 4 ER through less than five innings of work. The outing marked the fifth straight time he’s taken a loss or no decision as a member of the Cards’ starting rotation. Hudson is yet to earn a decision versus the Cubs in a pair of starts. On the surface, it looks like he held up against Chicago in those starts, but digging deeper paints a different story. Though he only conceded six hits and 3 ER while racking up 15 Ks in both outings, he issued 10 free passes. As well Chicago is hitting right now, it’ll spell doom if he can’t get his command under control; especially with the Cubs raking right-handed pitching for a .265 batting average and .808 OPS.
Player Prop Targets
Hudson struggles mightily to quiet left-handed bats. Lifetime, the righty concedes a .275 batting average against and a .325 slugging percentage against. With that, you’re going to want to look to the left-handed bats of the Cubs to do some damage against him. Anthony Rizzo and Ian Happ have fared decently against him in the past, but the bat I’ll be targeting in this matchup will be Kyle Schwarber who’s 2-for-3 lifetime with a trio of walks. He sees him real well, so I’d make it a point to look his way in any total bases props that hit the board with the Cubs right fielder involved. If you can find a HR prop, I’d bang that as well!
MLB Pick
Rust from not pitching since July 26 and proving to be very wild versus the Cubs in the past leads me to believe the Cardinals undermanned bullpen will be called upon early in this one. The same could be said for Hendricks as well considering St. Louis has shown a knack for hitting him hard but not doing much damage in the past. Should both scenarios play out, I simply can’t envision both of these offenses being unable to find a way to put runs on the board. Hudson’s two career starts against Chicago saw a total of 27 runs hit the board! Chicago will be going all out to win this series, and I think they close it out in style with a one-sided romp in the finale. Hit the moneyline, run-line, alternate run-line and over in every way shape and form!
MLB Odds: Cubs 10, Cardinals 4
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