Friday, June 26, 2015

Busch Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jake Arrieta (7-5) vs. John Lackey (6-4)

The Chicago Cubs head to Busch Stadium on Friday to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs send Jake Arrieta to the mound to face John Lackey of the Cardinals. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +123 and St. Louis at -133. The over/under was set at 7. The Cubs have a 28-36 over/under record and a 31-39 run line mark, meaning they cover 44% of the time. The Cardinals are 39-32 against the run line and have a 26-42 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Cubs come into this game with a 39-31 record, and they are 19-17 away from home. Jake Arrieta has an earned run average of 3.07 and is 7-5 so far on the season while having a 1.09 WHIP. The Cubs are 8-6 over his 91 innings pitched and he's also given up 78 hits over that time period. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 3-7. He is getting 4.1 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 3.00 and they've given up 188 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .225 against the Cubs bullpen while walking 86 times and striking out 208 times. Chicago is averaging 8.59 strikeouts per game while getting 8.13 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 5th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.46.

As a team, Chicago is batting .244, good for 22nd in the league while putting together a .253 average away from home. Ranked at 14th in the league in on-base percentage, the Cubs sit at .319 and they hold a .391 team slugging percentage. Anthony Rizzo leads the team in hits with 79 while the team ranks 19th in baseball with 8.39 hits per game.

With a 47-24 overall record, St. Louis will come into this game 26-7 at home. John Lackey is starting this game 6-4 for the season with an earned run average of 3.41 and a WHIP of 1.22. The Cardinals have a record of 8-6 over the 89.2 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 88 hits. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 5-9. He is getting 3.7 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.09 and they have given up 180 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .235 against the Cardinals bullpen while walking 69 times and striking out 185 times. St. Louis is averaging 8.05 strikeouts per game while getting 8.22 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.69.

As a team, they are batting .264, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .277 average at Safeco Field. Ranked at 4th in the league in on-base percentage, the Cardinals sit at .328 and they hold a .403 team slugging percentage. Jhonny Peralta leads the team in hits with 81 while the team ranks 9th in baseball with 8.96 hits a game.

The Cubs have committed 53 errors and have combined for 719 assists and 1,904 put outs leading to a .980 team fielding percentage. The Cardinals have committed 40 errors on the season with 696 assists and 1,916 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .985 on the year.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 28-36 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 31-39 against the run line so far this season

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends

The St. Louis Cardinals are 26-42 against the over/under so far this season

The St. Louis Cardinals are 39-32 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

06/25/15 CF Dexter Fowler Ankle "?" Friday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
06/25/15 3B Kris Bryant Flu left last game, "?" Friday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
06/25/15 SS Starlin Castro Personal "?" Friday vs. St. Louis Cardinals
06/23/15 P Tsuyoshi Wada Shoulder "?" for next scheduled start Saturday vs. St Louis Cardinals
06/03/15 RF Jorge Soler Ankle Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/2)
04/17/15 3B Mike Olt Wrist Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/15)
04/17/15 P Neil Ramirez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/16)
04/15/15 2B Tommy La Stella Ribs Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/9)
04/06/15 P Jacob Turner Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

St. Louis Cardinals

06/22/15 P Lance Lynn Forearm Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/8); expected to start Thursday vs. Miami Marlins
06/09/15 LF Matt Holliday Quad Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (06/10)
05/27/15 1B Matt Adams Quad Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (05/26), out for regular season
05/03/15 P Jordan Walden Bicep Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/30)
04/28/15 P Adam Wainwright Achilles Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/25); out for season
04/04/15 LF Tommy Pham Quad Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Josh's Pick: Take the Cardinals

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