St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can Steven Matz, Kyle Hendricks Take Control?
The St. Louis Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs for the final game of their series this afternoon. Can Steven Matz and Kyle Hendricks take control of the game on the mound today? Josh Gayle answers.
Josh Gayle - July 30, 2023, 10:27 AM EDT
5 minSt. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can Steven Matz, Kyle Hendricks Take Control?
I think we found some nice value here for the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game. Let's dive into my pick, prediction, and odds for this game.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: July 30, 2023
- Time: 2:15 pm ET
- Where to Watch: MLB.TV
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Pick
1u - STL/CHC u5.5 First 5 Total -140 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
I already see the questions rolling in; if I would take this at five flat, I actually would. You would have to be open to the idea of pushing but no harm, no foul in that. I really see value here and think it’s a sneaky good find.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
On paper, a Steven Matz versus Kyle Hendricks matchup is nothing amazing. When going a little deeper, you notice some really nice trends with these guys against the batters they’ll be facing. Allow me to nerd out with numbers here.
Hendricks is yet to face St. Louis this season, but these Cardinals bats have seen him in 176 at-bats; among those, they have mustered just 40 hits. A .227 batting average and just 10 RBIs in 176 at-bats is not bad at all. He is also better on the road holding a 2.82 ERA, and this game is far from Wrigley.
Matz has actually faced this Cubs team twice this season. In those two starts, he has allowed just one run over 8.1 innings pitched. The guy has their number this year. Matz has faced these Cubs bats 78 times and has allowed just 15 hits; they can’t even hit .200 against him. Among those 78 at-bats, we have seen them get just five RBIs. Matz is also better at home than on the road, so we get both pitchers where we want them.
Combined, these pitchers have 254 at-bats against them by the opponents and have allowed just 15 RBIs total; that’s an RBI every 17 at-bats or so. We just need five runs or less, and we cash this. The wind is blowing in, so that reduces the odds of the long ball as well. I really dig this one. Let's roll!
MLB Odds
