Chicago Cubs (17-17) at St Louis (19-14)
When: Friday, May 12th 2017
Where: Busch Stadium, St Louis, MO
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: MLB Network
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The struggling Chicago Cubs will open up a three-game weekend series with their nemesis – the red hot St. Louis Cardinals – on Friday night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have won six-straight to take over the top spot in the National League East, while the Cubs have dropped back to .500, losing five of their last six. One of the Cubs’ issues is starting pitching and they will throw a new arm into the rotation with Eddie Butler getting the call to replace the injured Brett Anderson in the rotation. He will go against a Cardinals lineup that has produced an average of 7.2 runs and 11.5 hits during its winning streak. They’re doing this all without their leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler, who injured himself while diving for a fly ball last Friday against Milwaukee and has been limited to pinch-hitting duties. The Cubs have missed Fowler’s presence at the top of the lineup since he signed with the Cardinals, as new leadoff man Kyle Schwarber has struggled to a .195 average and a .322 on-base percentage. The Cubs rank next-to-last in the National League with a .220 average with runners in scoring position. St. Louis infielder Jedd Gyorko is 10-for-28 during his seven-game hitting streak while 1B Matt Carpenter is 7-for-21 with three homers during his six-game run.
Pitchers: Cubs – Eddie Butler (2016: 2-5, 7.17 ERA) | Cardinals – Mike Leake (4-1, 1.79)
Butler is a former first-round pick who spent parts of three seasons with Colorado. He has had difficulty keeping the ball in the park in 36 major-league appearances (28 starts), allowing 28 home runs over 159.1 innings. Butler is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Iowa this year, however, and has not served up a homer in 30.2 innings.
Mike Leake has posted six straight quality starts to begin the season and has won his last four decisions. He surrendered his first home run of the season while allowing a season-high three runs over seven innings in a win at Atlanta on Saturday. Leake is 9-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 23 career starts against the Cubs, but he went 0-3 with a 5.64 ERA in four meetings last season.
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Leak has been terrific this season and he’s getting a Cubs team that is struggling to score runs. Butler might be dominating Triple-A this season, but he’s had no success in the Big Leagues. I’ll take St. Louis in the opener.
Pick: Cardinals -130
W/L TRENDS
| Chi. Cubs |
- Cubs are 60-27 in their last 87 during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 90-43 in their last 134 vs. National League Central.
- Cubs are 44-21 in their last 66 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 23-11 in their last 34 games following an off day.
- Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 road games.
- Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 Friday games.
- Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Cubs are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
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| St. Louis |
- Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a win.
- Cardinals are 6-0 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cardinals are 7-2 in their last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 16-5 in their last 21 overall.
- Cardinals are 16-5 in their last 21 games on grass.
- Cardinals are 9-3 in their last 12 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cardinals are 5-13 in their last 18 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Cardinals are 9-25 in their last 34 games following an off day.
- Cardinals are 6-0 in Leake’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 4-1 in Leake’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Cardinals are 4-1 in Leake’s last 5 starts.
- Cardinals are 4-1 in Leake’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Cardinals are 2-5 in Leake’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 2-6 in Leake’s last 8 starts vs. National League Central.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in Leake’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 1-5 in Leake’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Cardinals are 1-6 in Leake’s last 7 home starts.
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OU TRENDS
| Chi. Cubs |
- Over is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 10-1 in Cubs last 11 games following a loss.
- Over is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 6-1 in Cubs last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 13-3 in Cubs last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 games following an off day.
- Over is 8-2 in Cubs last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-2 in Cubs last 9 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 17-5 in Cubs last 22 overall.
- Over is 17-5 in Cubs last 22 on grass.
- Over is 19-7-1 in Cubs last 27 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Cubs last 12 Friday games.
- Over is 10-4 in Cubs last 14 road games.
- Over is 10-4 in Cubs last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.
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| St. Louis |
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games following an off day.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Cardinals last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 10-1 in Cardinals last 11 games following a win.
- Over is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 home games.
- Over is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 15-3 in Cardinals last 18 overall.
- Over is 15-3 in Cardinals last 18 on grass.
- Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 14-3 in Cardinals last 17 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 4-0 in Leake’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 6-1 in Leake’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-2 in Leake’s last 11 starts on grass.
- Under is 9-2 in Leake’s last 11 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Leake’s last 5 home starts.
- Under is 6-2 in Leake’s last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 6-2 in Leake’s last 8 starts vs. National League Central.
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HEAD TO HEAD
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in St. Louis.
- Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings.
- Cubs are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in St. Louis.
- Cubs are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
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