St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs 7/20/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
The St. Louis Cardinals will go against the Chicago Cubs in MLB action at Wrigley Field, Illinois, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 8:05 PM ET.
The report does not include the games played on Wednesday when the Miami Marlins visited the St. Louis Cardinals in an attempt to sweep a three-game series.
The Cards extended their winning streak to four games on Tuesday when they defeated the Marlins 5-2 in 10 innings.
The Cardinals won six of their previous eight games, and on Wednesday, they trailed the Milwaukee Brewers, who were in first place in the NL Central, by ten games.
In 523 at-bats, the Cards had a fantastic slash line of.289/.365/.476 with 34 extra-base hits and 21 homers.
Through 134.1 innings of action this month, the Cardinals’ pitching staff posted a 4.22 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and a.261 batting average.
On Thursday in Chicago, Steven Matz will take the mound against the Cubs for the second time this year. On June 24, in a crushing 9-1 home defeat to the Cubs, he pitched 3.1 innings in relief.
The 32-year-old left-hander Matz gave up four earned runs on four hits and three walks over 4.1 frames in a no-decision on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.
Matz is 0-7 with a 4.86 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and a 73/28 K/BB ratio in 2023. This season, the bullpen recorded 48 holds, which ranks 18th in the league.
The Cardinals’ bullpen pitchers entered games in 92 save situations, with a cumulative save percentage of 52.3%.
They made 23 saves on the season, while 21 of their 44 save chances were unsuccessful. This season, the Cardinals sent 290 relievers to the mound.
- The total went OVER in five of St. Louis’ last six matches.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are 5-0 SU in their last five matches.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are 7-2 SU in their last nine matches against the Chicago Cubs.
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St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs Predictions 7/20/2023
Wednesday night’s game between the Washington Nationals and the 44-50 Chicago Cubs was to determine the outcome of a three-game series.
The Cubs destroyed the Nationals 17-3 on Tuesday, scoring 14 runs through the seventh and eighth innings, following a 7-5 loss in the first game on Monday.
The Cubs were seven and a half games behind the Brewers on Wednesday, and it was Chicago’s fourth victory in its previous nine games. In 491 at-bats, the Cubs are batting only.257/.330/.393, with 20 extra-base hits and 15 homers.
Through 126 innings of action, their pitching staff posted a 5.29 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a.262 batting average against. The Cubs’ bullpen posted a 4.81 ERA and 4.80 FIP in July (48.2 IP).
On Thursday, Marcus Stroman will be benched. In 20 starts (118.2 IP), the 32-year-old righty is 10-6 with a respectable 2.88 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 101/42 K/BB ratio.
Before the All-Star break, Stroman struggled in his prior three outings, giving up 12 earned runs on 17 hits over 14 innings. However, he recovered to defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-4 on Saturday.
Throughout six frames, Marcus limited the Sawx to three hits and one run while striking out three. Chicago used bullpen relievers to enter the game on 21 occasions to attempt to salvage games, and they managed to do so 13 times.
They have sent 285 bullpen relievers to the mound this season and are now placed 16th in the league with a save rate of 61.9%. Their relievers took the mound 71 times with base runners and 67 times in high-leverage situations.
- The total has gone OVER in eight of the Chicago Cubs’ last eight games.
- The total went OVER in five of the Chivas’ last five matches at home.
- The Chicago Cubs are 5-13 SU in their last 18 matches at home against St. Louis.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs The MLB pick for this game is the Chicago Cubs. Marcus Stroman will take on the Cards for the third time this year.
On June 25, the Cardinals defeated the Mariners 7-5, and Stroman was the loser. In 3.1 innings of work, he allowed eight hits, a walk, and six runs (three of them earned).
In a 3-1 home defeat to St. Louis in May, Stroman was given the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work.
Against Stroman, the Cardinals are currently 39 for 137 with six home runs and 26 RBI, so it will be difficult for him to keep them quiet.
In addition to having a 122 wRC+, a.799 OPS, and a.160 ISO versus left-handed pitchers in July, St. Louis also has a 135 wRC+, a.855 OPS, and a.196 ISO against right-handed pitchers.
Anticipate a high-scoring contest on Thursday at Wrigley Field since the Cubs have a 110 wRC+, a.784 OPS, and a.166 ISO versus southpaws in July and are 9-for-42 with two home runs and four RBI against Steven Matz.
The Cubs should be chosen even if the Cardinals now appear to be a more dangerous offensive club because Stroman is undoubtedly a far superior pitcher than Matz. The Chicago Cubs will win by a predicted score of 5-3.
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St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs 7/20/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
MLB Starting Time: 8:05 PM ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Illinois
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2023
TV: Marquee
MLB Odds: St. Louis Cardinals +120
MLB Totals: 8.5