Two veteran pitchers will match up in a Monday night rivalry game between the St. Louis Cardinals (Jaime Garcia) and the Chicago Cubs (John Lackey). The Cubs are currently the overwhelming World Series favorites and will look to take advantage of a Cardinals team that has dropped five straight games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of the Cubs' last 14 games at home.
- The Cubs are 21-6 against teams in the NL Central this season.
- In 19.2 innings pitched in June, John Lackey has allowed a total of 2 runs.
The 37-year-old John Lackey (7-2, 2.66 ERA) will be taking on his former team for the third time this season tonight. Lackey is 1-0 in his first two starts against the Cards, allowing a total of three runs over 14 innings. The crafty vet has been stingy at Wrigley Field this year, posting an ERA of 1.66 over six starts at home.
Although they’ve dropped their last five games, the Cardinals have won five straight away from home and will send Jaime Garcia (4-6, 3.93 ERA) to the bump in search of their sixth straight road victory. Garcia has struggled mightily this month, posting an ERA of 5.63 over three starts.
The Redbirds have been slotted as +150 underdogs on Sportsbook while the Cubs will be -170 favorites as they go for their fourth straight win.
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Chicago Cubs bring a 47-20 record to the battle against the 35-33 Cardinals. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Chicago vs St. Louis injuries news.
The Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings have the Chicago Cubs at No. 2 and the St. Louis Cardinals at No. 6 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up Chicago Cubs No. 2 ranked offense (5.43 runs per game) against a St. Louis Cardinals defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 15 at 4.34 runs allowed per game. The Chicago Cubs have been averaging 8.66 hits per game, less than the St. Louis Cardinals have managed so far this season (9.13 hits on average).
Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping betting factors and Chicago has the No. 1-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Cardinals own the No. 15 mark in runs allowed.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Cardinals were saddled with a loss last time out in M Leake's start, as they lost 5-4 against Texas on Sunday at Busch Stadium.
K Hendricks blew away 12 Pittsburgh batters in the Cubs's last start, leading them to a 10-5 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
- St. Louis is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- St. Louis is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games
- St. Louis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Chi Cubs is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Chi Cubs's last 22 games
- Chi Cubs is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Chi Cubs's last 14 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
St. Louis at Chicago, Tuesday, June 21st
