Cardinals vs Cubs Odds - Cubs won't cool off Cards bats
The Cardinals vs Cubs odds are no Yankees/Red Sox, but they arguably represent the National League’s greatest MLB betting rivalry. More often than not, there’s controversy, a little bad blood, and a homer binge when these two teams clash at the Friendly Confines in Chicago. Can the Cubs stay afloat in the Central or will the Cards bury them?
Cardinals vs Cubs Odds: Homer-prone pitchers in homer-friendly park are bad news for Cubs
- Rich Harden is a train wreck at home
- Pujols will make the difference in Saturday pitcher’s duel
- Randy is dandy at the back of Chicago’s rotation
Friday, July 10, 2:20 p.m. ET
Brad Thompson (2-5, 4.92) vs Rich Harden (5-5, 5.35)
2009 has been an offshore sportsbook rollercoaster at best for Rich Harden. He’ll always have that nasty, ace-caliber raw stuff, but he can’t hit the broad side of a barn this season (32 walks in 69 innings) and when he does put something over the plate, it ends up in the bleachers (15 homers allowed). His splits show that all the troubles stem from pitching at hitter-friendly Wrigley Field, where he’s 2-4 with a 7.65 ERA. His road numbers are totally fine (3-1, 2.87). With those splits and Harden facing the red-hot Albert Pujols and Colby Rasmus, do you really want to pick Chicago in the Cardinals vs Cubs odds?
Brad Thompson is nothing special, but he’s a better road pitcher than home pitcher. That’s reason enough to like his Cardinals vs Cubs odds.
MLB betting pick: Cardinals
Saturday, July 11, 4:10 p.m. ET
Chris Carpenter (6-3, 2.32) vs Ted Lilly (8-6, 3.32)
The marquee online betting matchup of the weekend features two starters having banner seasons, and something has to give. Carpenter has been Cy Young-dominant, holding opponents to a .193 average and walking just 11 batters in 77 innings. He’s 8-3 against the Cubs in his career and 5-2 at Wrigley Field. He’ll have to pitch around Alfonso Soriano, though; the Cubs’ outfielder hits .387 with two homers and a 1.000 OPS in 31 at-bats against Carpenter.
As good as Carpenter is, do you dare bet against All-Star Ted Lilly in Chicago? He’s 5-1 with a 1.96 ERA at Wrigley this season. Ultimately, the Cardinals vs Cubs odds set up as a pitcher’s duel on Saturday, so be sure to bet under the total. It’s almost a coin toss, but I’ll go with St. Louis. The Cards are swinging the better bats right now and, as good as Lilly is, he always allows homers, even when he’s pitching well. Albert Pujols should connect off him and give Carpenter the run support he needs.
MLB betting pick: Cardinals
Sunday, July 12, 1:05 p.m. ET
Adam Wainwright (9-5, 3.09) vs Randy Wells (4-3, 2.48)
Finally, some help for Randy Wells! The underrated Cubs hurler has allowed more than three runs in a start just once this season yet didn’t get his first win until June 21. However, he’s won three more starts in a row since then and seems unbeatable at the moment. He throws lots of strikes and keeps the ball in the park reasonably well, so his Cardinals vs Cubs odds are hard to pass up.
Adam Wainwright owns the Cubs this year (2-0, 2.49 in three starts), but his road ERA is 4.05 versus 2.35 at home. He’s not the same pitcher away from Busch Stadium. Go with the Cubbies.
MLB betting pick: Cubs
For Cardinals vs Cubs odds and more sports betting tips, check out the Betting Edge at betonline.com.
Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball.
