St Louis (31-30) at Chicago Cubs (35-27)
When: Saturday, June 8th, 2019
Where: Wrigley Field,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 7:15 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Chicago -120
The St. Louis Cardinals swept the Chicago Cubs last weekend at Busch Stadium and the Cubs are off to a good start in returning that favor after a 3-1 win in the series opener on Friday. The clubs will now turn to the second game on Saturday which will be part of FOX’s Game of the Week as Jack Flaherty opposes Jon Lester. Each of the first seven meetings this season have gone to the home team and it was announced on Friday that two of the games in next year’s season series will take place in London. Cole Hamels limited the Cardinals to just three hits over eight scoreless innings on Friday to make Javier Baez’s first-inning, two-run homer stand up as the Cubs improved to 22-11 at Wrigley Field. Pedro Strop gave up a Paul DeJong solo homer in the ninth for his sixth save, but he’ll be out of that role very soon after the Cubs introduced new closer Craig Kimbrel at a press conference. Kimbrel will eventually help a bullpen that is tied for second in the National League with 12 blown saves after he works out for a bit in the minors. St. Louis dropped to 3.5 games behind the first place Cubs after losing for the 11th time in their last 14 road games. Slugger Paul Goldschmidt looks to break a 1-for-13 slump in his last four games.
Pitchers: Cardinals – Jack Flaherty (4-3, 3.76 ERA) | Cubs – Jon Lester (4-4, 3.32)
This will be Flaherty’s third start against the Cubs in 2019 and his second in a week after giving up two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over five innings of work last Saturday. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves in his previous outing at home, but has a 6.20 ERA in five road starts this season. He struck out nine Cubs in 5.2 innings at Wrigley Field on May 3rd, when he gave up three runs in a loss.
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Lester was bombed by the Phillies, Nationals, and Astros in three straight starts before bouncing back with a solid home effort against the Los Angeles Angels in a makeup game Monday. He limited the Halos to one run over seven innings to even his record at 4-4. Lester was 0-3 with a 10.28 ERA in his previous three starts while allowing four home runs. He has a 1.76 ERA in six home starts this year while posting 32 strikeouts and four walks in 30.2 innings and has a 2.85 ERA in 18 career starts against the Cardinals.
I’m sticking with the home team trend in this season series (7-0). Also, Lester has been terrific at home, while Flaherty has an ERA over six on the road. Seems like an easy pick here and a very generous line.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Saturday. He is 75-47 +2117 units on the season after a 25-9 run!
Pick: Cubs +100
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BETTING TRENDS:
Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 2 of a series.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 Saturday games.
Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 games on grass.
Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Cardinals are 5-11 in Flaherty’s last 16 starts during game 2 of a series.
Cardinals are 2-7 in Flaherty’s last 9 road starts.
Cardinals are 1-4 in Flaherty’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 1-5 in Flaherty’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 0-4 in Flaherty’s last 4 starts with 6 days of rest.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 15-6 in their last 21 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 12-5 in their last 17 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 21-9 in their last 30 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 9-4 in their last 13 during game 2 of a series.
Cubs are 13-6 in their last 19 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Cubs are 45-22 in their last 67 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 3-7 in their last 10 games following a win.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Cubs are 38-14 in Lester’s last 52 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 40-15 in Lester’s last 55 home starts.
Cubs are 37-14 in Lester’s last 51 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 12-5 in Lester’s last 17 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 9-4 in Lester’s last 13 Saturday starts.
Cubs are 40-18 in Lester’s last 58 starts vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 35-16 in Lester’s last 51 starts on grass.
Cubs are 37-18 in Lester’s last 55 starts with 4 days of rest.
Cubs are 35-17 in Lester’s last 52 starts.
Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 on grass.
Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 vs. National League Central.
Under is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 road games.
Under is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Under is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games following a loss.
Under is 8-2 in Cardinals last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 14-6-1 in Cardinals last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1 in Flaherty’s last 6 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-2 in Flaherty’s last 9 starts during game 2 of a series.
Over is 10-3 in Flaherty’s last 13 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-2 in Flaherty’s last 8 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-2 in Flaherty’s last 7 starts on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Flaherty’s last 7 road starts.
Under is 5-2 in Flaherty’s last 7 starts overall.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 during game 2 of a series.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 home games.
Over is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 7-3-1 in Cubs last 11 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts vs. National League Central.
Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
Over is 17-5 in Lester’s last 22 starts during game 2 of a series.
Over is 6-2-1 in Lester’s last 9 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-3-1 in Lester’s last 11 starts on grass.
Over is 7-3-1 in Lester’s last 11 starts overall.
Over is 9-4 in Lester’s last 13 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 17-8 in Lester’s last 25 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 home starts vs. Cardinals.
Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. Cardinals.
Under is 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 home starts vs. Cardinals.
Over is 10-3-1 in the last 14 meetings in Chicago.
Cubs are 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 starts vs. Cardinals.
Cardinals are 6-20 in the last 26 meetings in Chicago.
