Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Predictions, Odds, Picks

• Pivotal matchup in NL Central race
• Interesting pitching matchup
• X-factor to watch on both sides

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Odds

Odds presented by: DraftKings Sportsbook

Trends to Watch

• Cubs are 6-0 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing record
• Cubs are 4-13 in their last 17 overall
• Cubs are 2-9 in their last 11 road games
• Cubs are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. National League Central
• Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing record
• Under is 20-7-1 in Cubs last 28 road games
• Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 head-to-head meetings
• Cubs are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings
• Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games
• Cardinals are 3-13 in their last 16 vs. National League Central
• Under is 7-3-2 in Cardinals last 12 home games
• Under is 10-4 in Cardinals last 14 Monday games

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Predictions and Picks

Garcia’s 2021 record: (36-32-2)

How to Watch Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals

Key Series in NL Central

It may only be the middle of July, but the Cubs and Cardinals are getting set to play what is for each team the biggest series of the season thus far.

Both teams entered the season with postseason expectations — Chicago made the playoffs last year and St. Louis missed by just one game. However we’re now beyond the halfway mark of the season and each squad is hovering around the .500 mark.

Starting with the Cubs, they just had the ultimate remedy to open the second half of the season — they got to play the Diamondbacks (who are 11-46 in their past 57 games) and were only able to take two out of three.

The question now, is were the Cubs able to take the series because they reset their mentality at the All-Star break, or, is it just that they played the worst team in baseball? On the one hand Chicago just traded Joc Pederson and based on the contract structure of many key players on the team, it is a common thought that the Cubs will be sellers at the trade deadline in just a few weeks.

On the other hand, before the 12-game losing streak the Cubs just snapped, they were 10 games above .500 and right in the thick of the divisional race.

St. Louis — it has been reported — will either be buyers or will hold, they will not sell at the deadline. They have been in a holding patter for weeks and maybe even months as they’re just trying to wait it out until Jack Flahrety and Mike Milokas make it back from the injured list.

Either way, this series will determine a lot in the trajectory of how these teams handle their season.

Interesting Pitching Matchup

Jake Woodford was sent to the minors three weeks ago in order to stretch him out into a starter. Well, that time is here, and the 24-year-old prospect will make the second start of his career on ESPN against the rival Chicago Cubs. No pressure.

It’s not as if he hasn’t gotten used to this level — he’s made 29 appearances over the last two seasons — but after a solid month of May (3.00 ERA) he struggled in June (5.84 ERA).

That’s not to mention that he made three starts in Triple-A Memphis, going just 12 total innings with a 4.50 ERA, allowing six walks and striking out eight. So it’s a wonder if the Cardinals actually think he’s ready, or if they just need an arm.

As for Chicago, they’re still hoping Alec Mills can get right. His 4-2 record looks good on paper, but his 4.84 ERA and 1.41 WHIP tell a different story. He has exactly zero quality starts in his six starts this season and doesn’t miss many bats, striking out just 40 hitters through 48 innings.

That said, Mills has been a bit better of late, with a 3.77 ERA in June and 3.97 ERA so far here in July.

X-Factors to Watch

Chicago got hot early in the year thanks to some of the old familiar faces — Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez — but in recent months outside of Baez’s ability to hit the long ball, they’ve been rather pedestrian.

So we’re going to turn to probably the brightest spot in the lineup, Patrick Wisdom. He’s in a bit of a slump right now — 7-of-37 with just three extra base hits, 15 strikeouts and no walks in 12 games this month — but he’s been the best Cubs player against righties this year, so he could get hot in an instant.

And for St. Louis lets go with the man who has arguably been the Cardinals’ best player this year — outfielder Tyler O’Neill. Everybody looks to Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschimdt (and for good reason) but it’s the 26-year-old who has a team best 2.7 WAR and is batting .277 with 16 home runs, 38 RBIs and a team-best .878 OPS.