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You can bet the Cardinals-Cubs series Thursday through Sunday. Thursday’s game featured a line of -170 on the Cubs and +156 on the Cards. A total has yet to be posted on this game.
The Cubs have been on fire of late, winning nine of their last ten games while a struggling St. Louis club has won just three in ten.
These teams have essentially split wins and losses over their past ten meetings though St. Louis has won the last three and five of the last seven.
Jake Arrieta (13-5), starting Friday for the Cubs, was in early-season form during Saturday's 4-0 victory over the A's, pitching eight innings of scoreless, three-hit ball while issuing just one walk and striking out four.
It could get even better against the hard-luck Cardinals as he has allowed just 27 hits off of 144 of their bats with ZERO home runs in that span.
Kyle Hendricks (11-7, 2.17) starting on Saturday for the Cubs, has not been so lucky against St. Louis. He has permitted 24 hits on 96 at bats with four homers.
Also be extra cautious on Thursday as the Cardinals are 5-1 in Carlos Martinez’s last 6 starts vs. Cubs. He is 10-7 with a 3.29 ERA. He is coming off a brutal outing in which he gave up 7 runs. Before giving up four runs in his previous start, Martinez allowed no more than 2 runs in seven of his previous eight starts (with the 8th of those resulting in just 3 runs). He typically pitched deep.
The UNDER is 16-5-2 in the Cubs last 23 overall.
After a few shaky performances in July, Jon Lester appears to be back to his dominant self. In his last two starts - both wins - he has a 1.20 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 15:2 K:BB in 13 innings. He has not allowed more than 3 runs all season.
The UNDER is 7-2-1 in Martinez’s last 10 starts overall and 18-7-3 in Lester’s last 28 home starts.
TAKE THE UNDER THURSDAY EVEN AT 7
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
