Saturday's Top Wager
July 20, 2018
MLB Preview – St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs continue their long series on Saturday night in a game that can be seen on FOX. The teams played the opener of this five-game series on Thursday and this will be the second of two games on Saturday.
This is a huge series for the Cardinals, as they started on Thursday 7.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and a bad series could end any chance for St. Louis in the division.
The probable pitching matchup for Saturday night has John Gant going against Tyler Chatwood.
Let’s look at the matchup and MLB picks.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
Date and Time: Saturday, July 14, 2018, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
MLB Odds: Cardinals +134, Cubs -145, Total (NA)
Probable Pitchers: John Gant vs. Tyler Chatwood
Cardinals vs. Cubs TV Coverage: FOX
The Cardinals won their first game under interim manager Mike Shildt, but it will be interesting to see if the change from Matheny to Shildt will make a difference. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the team has enough talent to make a run. “The franchise decided to make a move on the manager, and hopefully that wakes everybody up,” Molina said, “I don’t think we need anybody. We’ve got the talent. We need to play better.”
The Cardinals were 24-22 in their first 46 road games, with 21 games going over, 22 going under, with three pushes. They are scoring 4.4 runs per game and giving up 3.8 per contest.
The Cubs were 28-15 in their first 43 home games, with 18 games going over, 24 going under, with one push. They are scoring 5.1 runs per game and giving up 3.6 per contest.
Starting Pitchers
Gant is 3-3 on the season with a 3.49 ERA. He gave up five hits and two runs last time out against the Giants, but the Cardinals did little on offense and lost 3-2. Gant is 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his last three starts.
Chatwood has been a mess for most of this season. He pitched okay last time out against San Diego, as he allowed three earned runs in five innings. Chatwood has a 5.04 ERA this season and walks are a huge problem for him. He leads the league in walks, having given up 73 in 84 innings.
Key Stats
The Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cubs are 47-23 in their last 70 home games. The Under is 11-5 in the Cubs last 16 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cardinals have had all kinds of trouble against the Cubs at Wrigley, as they were 1-6 in the last seven meetings before this five-game series began.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Picks
The value in this contest is definitely on the Cardinals simply because Chatwood has been awful for Chicago. The Cubs are stubbornly sticking with Chatwood in the rotation, but that patience is going to run out. The Cubs are expected to make a deal before the trading deadline to add a starting pitcher and there is a good chance that Chatwood will lose his starting spot. Gant has been okay for the Cardinals and St. Louis has actually been a decent team on the road. It is somewhat concerning that the Cardinals struggle in Chicago, but at the plus price I will take St. Louis.
I think a hedge is also a good idea in this contest on Saturday night with the total. If the Cubs are going to win this game you have to think it will be a high scoring game simply because Chatwood has been awful. The best case scenario is that the Cardinals win this game and get to Chatwood early and often and that the Cubs also get a few runs. I will take the over in this contest as well and hope to get a win by the Cardinals in a high scoring contest.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Pick: Cardinals and Over the total
Cardinals vs. Cubs Score Prediction: Cardinals 6, Cubs 5
July 20, 2018
MLB Preview – St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs continue their long series on Saturday night in a game that can be seen on FOX. The teams played the opener of this five-game series on Thursday and this will be the second of two games on Saturday.
This is a huge series for the Cardinals, as they started on Thursday 7.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and a bad series could end any chance for St. Louis in the division.
The probable pitching matchup for Saturday night has John Gant going against Tyler Chatwood.
Let’s look at the matchup and MLB picks.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
Date and Time: Saturday, July 14, 2018, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
MLB Odds: Cardinals +134, Cubs -145, Total (NA)
Probable Pitchers: John Gant vs. Tyler Chatwood
Cardinals vs. Cubs TV Coverage: FOX
The Cardinals won their first game under interim manager Mike Shildt, but it will be interesting to see if the change from Matheny to Shildt will make a difference. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the team has enough talent to make a run. “The franchise decided to make a move on the manager, and hopefully that wakes everybody up,” Molina said, “I don’t think we need anybody. We’ve got the talent. We need to play better.”
The Cardinals were 24-22 in their first 46 road games, with 21 games going over, 22 going under, with three pushes. They are scoring 4.4 runs per game and giving up 3.8 per contest.
The Cubs were 28-15 in their first 43 home games, with 18 games going over, 24 going under, with one push. They are scoring 5.1 runs per game and giving up 3.6 per contest.
Starting Pitchers
Gant is 3-3 on the season with a 3.49 ERA. He gave up five hits and two runs last time out against the Giants, but the Cardinals did little on offense and lost 3-2. Gant is 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his last three starts.
Chatwood has been a mess for most of this season. He pitched okay last time out against San Diego, as he allowed three earned runs in five innings. Chatwood has a 5.04 ERA this season and walks are a huge problem for him. He leads the league in walks, having given up 73 in 84 innings.
Key Stats
The Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cubs are 47-23 in their last 70 home games. The Under is 11-5 in the Cubs last 16 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cardinals have had all kinds of trouble against the Cubs at Wrigley, as they were 1-6 in the last seven meetings before this five-game series began.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Picks
The value in this contest is definitely on the Cardinals simply because Chatwood has been awful for Chicago. The Cubs are stubbornly sticking with Chatwood in the rotation, but that patience is going to run out. The Cubs are expected to make a deal before the trading deadline to add a starting pitcher and there is a good chance that Chatwood will lose his starting spot. Gant has been okay for the Cardinals and St. Louis has actually been a decent team on the road. It is somewhat concerning that the Cardinals struggle in Chicago, but at the plus price I will take St. Louis.
I think a hedge is also a good idea in this contest on Saturday night with the total. If the Cubs are going to win this game you have to think it will be a high scoring game simply because Chatwood has been awful. The best case scenario is that the Cardinals win this game and get to Chatwood early and often and that the Cubs also get a few runs. I will take the over in this contest as well and hope to get a win by the Cardinals in a high scoring contest.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Pick: Cardinals and Over the total
Cardinals vs. Cubs Score Prediction: Cardinals 6, Cubs 5
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