Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction: Can Cody Bellinger Stay Hot on Thursday?
The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals play the first game of their four-game series tonight. Can Cody Bellinger stay hot on Thursday? Ben Rajavuori provides his prediction and pick for the game.
Ben Rajavuori - July 20, 2023, 2:42 PM EDT
5 minChicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction: Can Cody Bellinger Stay Hot on Thursday?
The Chicago Cubs welcome the St. Louis Cardinals tonight for the first game of a four-game series from Wrigley Field. The Cardinals enter this series red-hot and on a five-game winning streak. The Cubs have won two in a row themselves and look to take the series opener behind their ace, Marcus Stroman. However, even the best pitchers need run support, and I expect Cody Bellinger to provide some for Stroman tonight.
Cubs vs. Cardinals Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: July 20, 2023
- Time: 8:05 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction
After hitting .305 with 47 home runs in 2019, Cody Bellinger hit a major slump the next few seasons. It got as bad as a .165 average with ten home runs in 2021. After spending the first five seasons of his career in Los Angeles, 2022 would be Bellinger's last season with the Dodgers, and he hit .210 last season. The Cubs acquired Bellinger, and it has been one of the best moves they have made in a while. The Cubs signed Bellinger in December on a one-year deal with $17.5 million guaranteed, and the signing is proving to be paying off significantly. Bellinger is hitting .311/.367/.527 with 12 home runs. Although his power is down a bit, his new approach at the plate is definitely paying off, meaning whatever the Cubs' hitting coaches have been doing for him has been working.
Not only has Bellinger been having a nice comeback season, but he has been absolutely eating at the plate in July. Bellinger is hitting .456/.492/772 in July with five home runs in 57 at-bats. Bellinger is on a hot streak right now, and he is looking like the Cody Bellinger we knew from his first few seasons in the big leagues. He has nine multi-hit games in his last 12 games, including five multi-hit games during the current six-game home stand. All 5 of his home runs have come during the last ten games as well.
The line on Cody Bellinger to go over 1.5 bases tonight comes with a great price of +120 over on FanDuel. This is a line that Bellinger has hit in nine of his last 12 games and in ten of his 15 total games in July so far. Since the resumption of the season after the all-star break, Bellinger has looked untouchable.
Bellinger faces lefty Steven Matz tonight. Bellinger actually has reverse splits and has hit better off left-handed pitchers this season, going .346/.411/.642 against lefties and .294/.344/.469 against righties. He has as many home runs (six) in 81 at-bats against lefties as he does against righties with 160 at-bats. Bellinger has also seen Matz before and has had success against him. Bellinger is 2-7 off Matz with a double and a home run, going for extra bases in each hit off him.
Bellinger is feeling it right now, and there is no reason not to ride with him again tonight. We're getting plus money on him to do what he has done in all but one game since the all-star break. He also has a good history off Matz, so there is no reason not to pull the trigger here. I like Bellinger to record over 1.5 bases and to even go yard at +650.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Pick
Two Unit Pick: Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 Bases +120 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
MLB Odds
