St Louis (48-46) at Chicago Cubs (55-38)
When: Thursday, July 19th 2018
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Chicago -150
The Chicago Cubs made a strong push to finish the first half of the season and look to keep that momentum going when they open a five-game series with their rivals from St. Louis on Thursday evening. Chicago has captured 12 of their last 15 games to overtake the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central by 2.5 games as we begin the second half of the season. St. Louis entered the break with a victory in interim manager Mike Shildt’s first game since taking over for the fired Mike Matheny. The Cardinals are just two games over .500 and trail the Cubs by 7.5 games, and this weekend’s five-game set with the front-runners could determine whether they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. St. Louis has won five of eight meetings this season, but the teams have split two games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs took seven of eight from the Cardinals at home in 2017. St. Louis SS Yairo Munoz is 8-for-24 with two homers and seven RBIs during a six-game hitting streak, while Chicago’s Jason Heyward and Javier Baez are both riding five-game hitting streaks.
Pitchers: Cardinals – Carlos Martinez (6-5, 3.08 ERA) | Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 3.92)
Carlos Martinez gets the second half underway and entered the All-Star Break with three straight victories, posting quality starts in all three, before losing to Cincinnati in his last outing of the first half. Martinez allowed three runs over five innings in suffering his first loss at home since early May. He is 4-4 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 games (15 starts) against the Cubs, including a no-decision June 16th in which he gave up three runs in five innings.
Kyle Hendricks allowed just two earned runs in his last two starts and cut down on his free passes. Hendricks walked eight batters over two outings in the middle of June, but has since issued a total of four free passes in his last four starts. The Cubs scored a single run in eight of his 19 starts and is 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 11 starts against the Cardinals, including a win over Martinez on June 16th.
Its hard to predict which way the Cardinals are going to go in the second half, but I do know the Cubs are just getting started. They ended the first half on a high-note and will keep that going on Thursday.
Pick: Cubs -148
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Cardinals are 20-43 in their last 63 games following an off day.
- Cardinals are 6-14 in their last 20 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a win.
- Cubs are 9-2 in their last 11 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 12-3 in their last 15 overall.
- Cubs are 12-3 in their last 15 games on grass.
- Cubs are 39-14 in their last 54 Thursday games.
- Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a win.
- Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 36-16 in their last 52 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Cubs are 47-23 in their last 70 home games.
- Cubs are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. National League Central.
- Cubs are 8-2 in Hendricks’ last 10 Thursday starts.
- Cubs are 7-3 in Hendricks’ last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 2-6 in Hendricks’ last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 1-4 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
- Cubs are 1-4 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 1-6 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 5-0 in Cardinals last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 on grass.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Cardinals last 6 games following an off day.
- Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 9-2 in Cubs last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 Thursday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 games following a win.
- Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 8-3 in Cubs last 11 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 games following an off day.
- Over is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Under is 22-4-1 in Hendricks’ last 27 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 15-3 in Hendricks’ last 18 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Hendricks’ last 5 Thursday starts.
- Under is 12-3 in Hendricks’ last 15 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 21-7 in Hendricks’ last 28 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 8-3 in Hendricks’ last 11 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 19-8 in Hendricks’ last 27 starts on grass.
- Under is 19-8 in Hendricks’ last 27 starts overall.
- Under is 35-15-1 in Hendricks’ last 51 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 37-16-1 in Hendricks’ last 54 home starts.
- Cubs are 5-0 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts vs. Cardinals.
- Cardinals are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.
