MLB Predictions: Will Cards vs. Cubs be high-scoring? 7/23/17
Will the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game between the Cardinals and Cubs be high-scoring tonight at Wrigley Field?
The Matchup: Cardinals vs. Cubs, 8:05PM ET, Wrigley Field
St. Louis enters play with a 37-41 record on the season despite winning six of its last 10 games. The Cardinals have struggled on the road this season, dropping 21 and winning just 17.
As for Chicago, the Cubs improved their record to 40-39 on the year after rallying to beat the Cardinals on Saturday. They’re now 5-5 over their last 10 games and 22-16 at home this season.
According to oddsmakers, Chicago is a -175 money line favorite to win tonight at home. That makes St. Louis a +165 money line underdog to pull off the upset. The total, meanwhile, sits at 8.5 runs.
The Pitching Matchup: Michael Wacha (STL) vs. Jose Quintana (CHC)
Wacha is coming off the best start of the season and one of the best outings of his career. He pitched a complete game shutout versus the Mets in New York earlier this week, holding NY to three hits while striking out eight and walking one. Wacha is now 7-3 on the year and owns a 3.71 ERA.
Quintana, meanwhile, impressed in his Cubs debut. He pitched seven innings of no-run ball, allowing three hits and striking out 12 in a sterling performance against the Orioles in Baltimore. Quintana is now 5-8 on the season and owns a 4.20 ERA.
Our Prediction
Wacha has been outstanding of late, but fatigue could be an issue for him tonight. He has never thrown more than 115 pitches in a game during his career and he threw 119 pitches in that gem versus the Mets. Despite his recent run of success, I like the Cubs to jump on him early as he fights with command issues.
The over is 5-0 in Wacha’s last five road starts versus the Cubs and is 11-1 in his last 12 starts versus Chicago overall. I like the over tonight at Wrigley.
Sunday MLB Prediction: Cardinals/Cubs over 8.5
