Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals 7/12/24 – As we approach the mid-season mark, the Chicago Cubs (45-49) will clash with the St. Louis Cardinals (48-44) in what promises to be a compelling matchup this Friday at Busch Stadium. With the teams positioned closely in the standings, each game now significantly impacts the playoff races. This encounter offers a great opportunity for baseball betting picks as both teams look to assert their dominance in the National League.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals 7/12/24
| When: | Friday, July 12, 2024 at 8:15 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Busch Stadium |
| TV: | ATV+ |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals 7/12/24
| Team | RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | +1.5 (-137) | 8.5 over (-102) | +167 |  |
| Cardinals | -1.5 (+111) | 8.5 under (-125) | -200 | |
| ||||
The Cubs enter the game as underdogs with a +167 moneyline and a +1.5 run spread at -137 odds, indicating skepticism about their ability to win outright despite recent form improvements. The Cardinals, favored at -200 on the moneyline, are expected to capitalize on their home field advantage. The total set at 8.5 with contrasting odds on over and under highlights a division in expectations regarding scoring in this matchup.
Who has the lowest ERA in @MLB since May 27?
asking for a friend. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/Vxerkribjt
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 12, 2024
Kyle Hendricks (1-7, 7.53 ERA) vs. Sonny Gray (9-5, 3.3 ERA)
Kyle Hendricks’ season has been challenging, particularly having a 7. That means the Eagles had a team ERA of 53 and a team record of 1-7 over 63.1 IP. control has been a major issue for Hendricks as he has been charged with 80 hits and 13 homers; this is well scalable for the Cardinals which has an instinct for capitalizing on those issues. A WHIP of 1.58 is rather high and means that he tends to load the bases making for high-scoring innings from the opposing team’s side.
On the other hand, Sonny Gray has been more reliable for the Cardinals having a record of 9-5 and an average of 3.3 ERA in 92.2 innings. Ever since his WHIP stands at 1.04, with 115 strike outs to his credit, sustaining a good control of the game and less scoring from the opponents’ side will play a vital role for Gray. His inputs could very much determine the tempo and the result of the match.
Analyzing the Cubs’ Offensive Dynamics
The Cubs bats are cold with a combined batting average of .231 and on base percentage of .311. Namely, the 90 home run management does not indicate their constant power hitting as their slugging of .372 suggests. But as the recent statistics depict they have been improving their performance and in fact have been scoring in 6-1, in their last 7 matches to indicate some of the batsmen are probably getting in form. Thus, the outcome of scoring opportunities is expected to be a key determinant of the team success especially against a pitcher who almost eliminates free passes and hits.
Cardinals’ Strategic Advantage
The Cardinals side, there is a marginal advantage when it comes to batting average at .244 while the Slugging is considerably better at .383. They have equaled the Cubs in the department of home runs, they have however been better placed in the department of getting to scoring positions and this is evident with the team’s hits. Their pitching is not as strong with a 3.98 ERA as compared to the Cubs’ 3.85 – still playing strong though, particularly in the bullpen to close a game out
Trends
Chicago Cubs Betting Trends
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cubs’ last 6 games.
Cubs are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games.
Chicago Cubs are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against St. Louis.
Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cubs’ last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis’ last 6 games.
Total has gone UNDER in 7 of St. Louis’ last 8 games against Cubs.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis’ last 6 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis’ last 5 games when playing at home against Cubs.
St. Louis are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the National League.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Betting Picks
Given the pitching matchup and historical performances, the Cardinals seem poised to take advantage of Hendricks’ struggles. Betting on the Cardinals to cover the -1.5 spread could be a wise choice, especially with Gray on the mound. The total going UNDER 8.5 also seems plausible, considering the pitching duel and recent trends in games involving these two teams.
For those looking at the premier sportsbook online, consider prop bets on strikeouts for Sonny Gray and perhaps an UNDER on total runs for the Cubs. The matchup’s dynamics lean towards a low-scoring affair dominated by quality pitching, particularly from the Cardinals.
Score Prediction: Cardinals 5, Cubs 2.
