Chicago Cubs (87-68) at St Louis (81-74)
When: Monday, September 25th 2017
Where: Busch Stadium, St Louis, MO
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: St Louis -123/8.5
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet MLB Baseball odds and props!
The Chicago Cubs can take a big step in clinching another National League Central title when they open a four-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals on Monday night. The Cubs’ magic number to clinch the division crown is two heading into this week. They lead second-place Milwaukee by 5.5 games and can go six up with six to play with a win Monday, as the Brewers are idle. The Cardinals are six back in the division and fighting to remain in the NL wild-card race, trailing Colorado by 2.5 games for the final playoff spot. St. Louis lost the final two games of its three-game set at Pittsburgh over the weekend, while the Cubs took three of four from Milwaukee and have won 10 of their last 12. Chicago leads the season series 11-4 and are 41-28 against NL Central opponents. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant has reached base in 11 straight games and is batting .329 with 22 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, and 31 RBIs in 69 road contests this season.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jon Lester (11-8, 4.56 ERA) | Cardinals – Luke Weaver (7-1, 2.05)
Jon Lester appeared to be back on track, winning three straight starts, but was ripped for seven runs over 4.1 innings of a loss at light-hitting Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Lester does have seven quality starts since the All-Star Break, but has been tagged in a few outings as well. He is 4-4 with a 2.36 ERA in 13 career starts against the Cardinals, including a 1-1 mark and 3.28 ERA in four meetings this season. Yadier Molina is 12-for-32 with three doubles and a homer against Lester, but the rest of the Cardinals’ roster is a combined 29-for-159 against him.
Luke Weaver has been a great addition and surprise to the rotation, winning his last seven starts with a scoreless relief appearance mixed in. Weaver is an amazing 7-0 with a 1.61 ERA since his only loss of the season and has 58 strikeouts to go along with eight walks in 44.2 innings over that span. Weaver faced the Cubs in his big-league debut last season and gave up two runs over four innings in a no-decision.
[ad id=’36449′]
The Cardinals always want to beat the Cubs, but they’re playing for a lot more this week. St. Louis really can’t afford another loss if they want to make the postseason. The Cardinals are 7-0 in Weaver’s last seven starts. Make it eight. Be sure to check out our Monday Night Football prediction as well.
Pick: Cardinals -122
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 9-1 in their last 10 games on grass.
- Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. National League Central.
- Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 overall.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 21-6 in their last 27 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 7-2 in their last 9 games following a win.
- Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 road games.
- Cubs are 37-15 in their last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 12-5 in their last 17 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 37-17 in their last 54 Monday games.
- Cubs are 10-1 in Lester’s last 11 Monday starts.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 13-4 in Lester’s last 17 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 6-2 in Lester’s last 8 road starts.
- Cubs are 19-7 in Lester’s last 26 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 39-18 in Lester’s last 57 starts on grass.
- Cubs are 39-19 in Lester’s last 58 starts.
- Cubs are 2-7 in Lester’s last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 9-1 in their last 10 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
- Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
- Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 11-3 in their last 14 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 9-3 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a loss.
- Cardinals are 37-18 in their last 55 Monday games.
- Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cardinals are 5-0 in Weaver’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
- Cardinals are 7-0 in Weaver’s last 7 starts.
- Cardinals are 7-0 in Weaver’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Cardinals are 5-0 in Weaver’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cardinals are 4-0 in Weaver’s last 4 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 6-0 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 games following a win.
- Under is 8-2-2 in Cubs last 12 Monday games.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Cubs last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Cubs last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 39-19-3 in Cubs last 61 road games.
- Under is 5-0 in Lesters last 5 Monday starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Lester’s last 4 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Lester’s last 12 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 road starts.
- Under is 12-5 in Lester’s last 17 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Lester’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 home games.
- Under is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games following a loss.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Cardinals last 6 Monday games.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Cardinals last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 8-3 in Cardinals last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 10-4 in Cardinals last 14 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 17-8-1 in Cardinals last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Weaver’s last 6 home starts.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Weaver’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Weaver’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Weaver’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 8-1-2 in Lester’s last 11 starts vs. Cardinals.
- Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings in St. Louis.
- Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Cubs are 5-2 in Lester’s last 7 starts vs. Cardinals.
- Cubs are 1-4 in Lester’s last 5 road starts vs. Cardinals.
