Free MLB Pick: Cubs vs Cardinals Odds
Looking for Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals free plays? MLB betting sees the Cubs taking on the Cardinals on Monday, April 18th at Busch Stadium . Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions.
(9-3) Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals (7-5)
Date: Monday, April 18, 2016
Time: 8:09 PM ET
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Projected Pitchers: John Lackey vs. Mike Leake
MLB Moneyline Odds: Cubs -111, Cardinals +103
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Cardinals +1.5, -165
MLB Betting Total: 8
Live MLB Odds
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This is a chance for the Cubs to really put some early breathing room between them and the Cardinals. It is also a good story line with John Lackey starting a series against his former mates.
Chicago has looked very much like the best team in baseball so far this season but they were not as sharp over the weekend. This is the first of many series between the clubs this season.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago has surprising trouble against Colorado at home over the weekend, dropping two of three.
The bats really disappeared as they scored just one run in the two losses and suffered the rare shutout on Sunday.
Even with that down performance they are still second in the league in scoring and have a great chance of breaking out against Leake.
John Lackey was a bi g acquisition for the Cubbies, adding to their strength and taking it from a rival. Even though he is a perfect 2-0 he has been the weak link in the rotation so far with a 5.88 ERA.
Maybe a return to Busch Stadium gets him going – the warmer weather won’t hurt either. Either way it creates a nice story line for the series opener.
The Cubs bullpen has been solid this season.
They have been helped by being used the least in the Majors (tied with the White Sox) but lead in batting average against.
This is pretty impressive given that there is no pitcher in this group who has the kind of track record that would intimidate opponents.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals may not be imposing but they are not going to disappear as a contender this season.
Just 12 games in they are proving to be as resourceful as ever getting hitting and pitching contributions from places you wouldn’t expect.
They come into this one as the top scoring team in all of baseball thanks to Brandon Moss and Jeremy Hazelbaker – sound like partners in a law firm. Once Matt Holliday and Randal Grichuk get going they will be that much more fearsome.
When Lackey left the Cards picked up Leake as a replacement. So far the results have not been all that spectacular. This will be his third straight start against a Central Division opponent. Maybe that is too much familiarity from all of his time with Cincinnati.
Ortiz and Shaw have both been living up to expectations this season and we have to figure out a way to manufacture some runs.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- CHC are 58-26 in their last 84 overall.
- CHC are 58-26 in their last 84 games on grass.
- CHC are 36-17 in their last 53 road games.
- Over is 7-2 in STL last 9 overall.
- Over is 7-2 in STL last 9 on grass.
- STL are 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
Free Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals MLB Prediction:
The Cubs had their first real stumble of the season so I am curious to see how they respond. I am banking on them to respond because most of the key hitters in their lineup have good numbers against Leake, who I have never been a fan of.
Lackey was night and day last season, with an ERA under two at home so this is the perfect situation to get him back on track. The odds have the Cubs as just a small favourite in this one, that looks like a number to exploit.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Chicago ML
It’s no surprise but the Cubs have been favoured in every single game this season. This would be the second best value you have gotten for a team that has already cashed more than a few units thus far.
Don’t miss it.
MLB Free Score Prediction: Chicago 5 – St. Louis 4
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