Chicago Cubs (60-44) at St Louis (53-51)
When: Sunday, July 29th 2018
Where: Busch Stadium, St Louis, MO
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Chicago -109/8.5
The suddenly slumping Chicago Cubs will try and salvage the finale of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball after dropping the first two at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have Chicago’s number this season and can clinch the season series with a victory Sunday. St. Louis did all their scoring in the first inning of Saturday’s 6-2 victory, including Marcell Ozuna’s grand slam (watch) off left-hander Jose Quintana, as the Cubs continue to fall behind early in games. Chicago’s offense has sputtered lately, scoring two or fewer runs in five of their past six games and are still without slugging third baseman Kris Bryant (shoulder) in the lineup. The win assured the Cardinals of their first series win since taking two of three at Arizona in early July. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is 11-for-27 during a six-game hitting streak, while the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo is 10-for-17 in his last five games against St. Louis. The Cardinals are seven games behind Chicago in the National League Central, but the Cubs lead over Milwaukee is down to just a half-game. Chicago looks to get a solid start from right-hander Kyle Hendricks on Sunday when he opposes John Gant.
Pitchers: Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (6-9, 4.05 ERA) | Cardinals – John Gant (3-3, 3.44)
Hendricks has been scuffling a bit over the last month and has just one victory to his name over his last seven starts with a 5.20 ERA over that span. Hendricks struck out a season-high eight batters last time out against Arizona, but needed 106 pitches to get through five innings, allowing three runs in the setback. He is 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 starts against the Cardinals.
Gant continues to go back-and-forth between the bullpen and rotation, but has done a solid job in both roles. He had a rough outing out of the bullpen on July 25th, allowing two runs in an inning of work against Cincinnati, but through five scoreless innings at Wrigley Field against the Cubs on July 21st. He is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against the Cubs.
The Cubs offense continues to struggle without Bryant, while the starting staff is having trouble pitching deep into games. I’m a little more confident in Gant that I am Hendricks right now. Look for the Cardinals to complete the weekend sweep and keep the Cubs bats cold.
Pick: Cardinals +105
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 Sunday games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 3 of a series.
- Cubs are 17-8 in their last 25 overall.
- Cubs are 17-8 in their last 25 games on grass.
- Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Cubs are 2-5 in Hendricks’ last 7 road starts.
- Cubs are 2-5 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 2-5 in Hendricks’ last 7 Sunday starts.
- Cubs are 2-7 in Hendricks’ last 9 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Cubs are 0-7 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Cardinals are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cardinals are 2-6 in their last 8 home games.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cardinals are 2-5 in Gant’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 2-7 in Gant’s last 9 starts.
- Cardinals are 2-7 in Gant’s last 9 starts on grass.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in Gant’s last 5 home starts.
- Over is 5-0 in Cubs last 5 Sunday games.
- Over is 7-1 in Cubs last 8 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 7-1 in Cubs last 8 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 on grass.
- Over is 16-5 in Cubs last 21 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 16-5 in Hendricks’ last 21 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 12-4 in Hendricks’ last 16 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 Sunday starts.
- Over is 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 35-15-1 in Hendricks’ last 51 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 20-9 in Hendricks’ last 29 starts on grass.
- Under is 20-9 in Hendricks’ last 29 starts overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-0 in Cardinals last 5 Sunday games.
- Over is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 home games.
- Over is 7-2 in Cardinals last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 10-3 in Cardinals last 13 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 29-9-1 in Cardinals last 39 during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 9-3 in Cardinals last 12 overall.
- Over is 9-3 in Cardinals last 12 on grass.
- Cubs are 6-0 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts vs. Cardinals.
- Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Hendricks’ last 5 road starts vs. Cardinals.
- Over is 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 road starts vs. Cardinals.
- Over is 7-3 in Hendricks’ last 10 starts vs. Cardinals.
- Cubs are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings in St. Louis.
