After going extra innings to open this series Friday night, the Cubs and Cardinals meet for Game 2 Saturday night in St. Louis. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Saturday’s MLB betting odds opened St. Louis at around -125 over Chicago, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that line up to -135.
Cubs vs. Cards Set-Up
St. Louis took the opener of this series Friday night 2-1 in 10 innings, cashing in as a -135 favorite on the MLB betting line. That game was tied at 1-1 in the second inning, and neither team scored until the Cardinals pushed across a run in the bottom of the tenth.
With Friday’s loss, the Cubs are just 2-6 over their last eight games.
With Friday’s victory St. Louis is still only 4-6 over its last 10 games.
At 31-24 overall Chicago leads the NL Central by a half-game over second-place Milwaukee and by 3.5 games over the 28-28 Cardinals.
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season. One month ago the Cubbies swept three games from St. Louis at Wrigley Field.
Saturday’s Starting Arms
Flaherty, by our strict standards, is only 4/11 on quality starts this season, but basically a few walks away from being three for his last three. Last Sunday he tossed six innings of three-hit, shutout ball against Atlanta, although the Cardinals lost that game 4-3. And over his last three starts, he’s allowed just five runs and 10 hits through 18 innings.
St. Louis is 5-6 with Flaherty this season and 1-4 over his last five starts, although that’s not all his fault.
In four career starts against the Cubs, three last year and one in that series a month ago, Flaherty allowed eight runs and 12 hits over 18 1/3 innings, with 28 strikeouts but also 14 walks. The Cardinals split those four games.
Lefty Quintana is 6/10 on quality starts this season and three for his last five. Last Sunday he got bopped around by the Reds for six runs – five earned – and 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-2 Chicago defeat. But over his previous four starts, Quintana allowed eight runs and 20 hits through 23 2/3 innings.
The Cubs are 6-4 with Quintana this season, but only 1-3 over his last four starts.
Over his last five starts against St. Louis, four last year and one a month ago, Quintana gave up 12 ER and 29 hits through 25 innings. Chicago lost three of those five games.
Saturday’s Batting Splits
Chicago is batting .260/.348/.462 against right-handed pitching this season. But this lineup has also been held to three runs or less three times over its last five games.
St. Louis is batting .239/.335/.412 against left-handed pitching this season. But this lineup has also been held to three runs or less five times over its last nine games.
The Bullpens
The Cubs bullpen owns a 3.93 ERA this season and a 1.44 WHIP.
The Cards pen owns a 4.24 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.
Totals Report
- Overs are 31-24 in Cubs games this season.
- Unders are 27-26 in Cardinals games this season.
- Unders are 14-13 in games played at Busch Stadium this season.
