Free Pick: Cubs vs. Cardinals Odds
Looking for Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Cubs taking on the Cardinals on 5/31 at Busch Stadium, in St. Louis. This free MLB baseball pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Cubs Cardinals matchup..
2026 MLB Handicapping – Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals
(32-27) Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals (30-26)
Date: May 31, 2026
Time: 7:20 PM ET
Venue: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Projected Starting Pitchers: Jordan Wicks vs. Matthew Liberatore
MLB Moneyline Odds: Cubs -115 | Cardinals -104 (Bet Now!)
Today’s MLB Run Line Betting Odds: Cubs -1.5 | Cardinals +1.5
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: O/U: 8.5
Here’s why I’m backing an OVER bet below in my Cubs Cardinals free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Cubs vs. Cardinals Gameday
The Chicago Cubs travel to Busch Stadium tonight to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Chicago enters at 32-27, holding a slight edge over St. Louis, which comes in at 30-26.
Both clubs are trying to gain ground in the NL Central.
The Cubs snapped their losing streak with a win over the Cardinals in their last meeting. Meanwhile, St. Louis will try to respond after dropping that game.
These division rivals continue to battle for position in a crowded NL Central race.
Chicago owns a 14-16 road record under Craig Counsell. The Cardinals are 14-14 at home under Oliver Marmol. Light rain is expected around first pitch, and the game will be televised on NBC beginning at 7:20 PM.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds & Last 5
Oddsmakers expect a competitive matchup tonight.
The Cubs are listed at -116 on the moneyline, while the Cardinals sit at -104. Chicago is -1.5 on the runline at +141, suggesting another closely contested game.
The Cubs have split their last two games against St. Louis. Chicago earned a 6-1 victory on May 30th after falling 6-5 on May 29th. The Cardinals will look to build off that earlier win and protect home field.
Cardinals Stats
St. Louis has produced steady offensive numbers throughout the season. The Cardinals rank 11th in batting average at .238 and 11th in home runs with 63. Their .315 on-base percentage ranks 15th in baseball.
JJ Wetherholt continues to be a key contributor.
He leads the club with 9 home runs while batting .244. Iván Herrera owns a .260 batting average, has 7 home runs, and leads the team with a .386 on-base percentage.
The pitching staff has been somewhat inconsistent. St. Louis carries a 4.21 ERA that ranks 18th in the league. Opponents are batting .255 against Cardinals pitching, although the club has still produced 20 quality starts, ranking 8th.
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Cubs Stats
Chicago enters with a .240 team batting average that ranks 10th in baseball. Their .336 on-base percentage ranks 2nd and remains one of the club’s biggest offensive strengths.
The Cubs continue to excel at drawing walks.
Their league-leading total of 265 walks has helped create scoring opportunities throughout the season. Ian Happ remains a steady contributor, while Nico Hoerner continues to provide production in both batting average and RBIs.
On the mound, Chicago owns a 4.17 ERA that ranks 17th. The pitching staff has done a better job limiting contact, however, holding opponents to a .238 batting average against, which ranks 11th in the league.
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Cubs vs. Cardinals Pitching Matchup
Jordan Wicks takes the ball for Chicago looking to improve on a difficult start to the 2026 season. He enters with a 0-1 record, a 16.62 ERA, a 2.31 WHIP, and 5 strikeouts.
Wicks needs a stronger outing tonight.
His current numbers point to significant struggles, but there is still time to make adjustments. Improving his command and reducing baserunners will be critical moving forward.
Matthew Liberatore gets the start for St. Louis carrying a 2-3 record. He owns a 4.76 ERA, a 1.57 WHIP, and has recorded 53 strikeouts this season.
Liberatore has delivered more consistent results than his counterpart. Even so, there is room for improvement in lowering his ERA. Continued refinement of his mechanics could help produce better results as the season progresses.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals bottom line: Recent meetings have been competitive, and another tightly contested NL Central matchup should be expected.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Betting Trends
- The Cardinals are 1-4 straight-up in their last 5 games.
- Also, the Cubs are 3-2 straight-up in their last 5 games.
- The Cardinals have gone under the total in 3 of their last 5 games.
- The Cubs have gone over the total in 3 of their last 5 games.
- Additionally, the Cardinals have covered the run line in 1 of their last 5 games.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in 3 of their last 5 games.
Cubs Cardinals Free Pick: Over 8.5
Here is my Cubs Cardinals free pick: This matchup still points toward offense.
Chicago has been producing enough offense lately to keep pushing games over the total, and that trend deserves attention. The lineup has shown consistent power.
St. Louis continues giving up runs at an uncomfortable rate, especially through a pitching staff that has struggled with the long ball. So why expect a low-scoring game now?
Another thing here, recent meetings between these teams have produced their share of scoring opportunities. Quick thought, home runs change everything.
Runs should come from both dugouts.
This game profiles as another higher-scoring matchup.
The offensive trends and pitching concerns both support looking toward the over tonight. My play for today is on the Over 8.5, I’m going with my MLB gambling system on this one.
Today’s MLB Free Pick
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MLB Betting Tweet Of The Day
Burly brings in the first run of the game! pic.twitter.com/0jmBuRCtIH
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 31, 2026
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