Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions

The Chicago Cubs (50-51) and St. Louis Cardinals (46-57) tangle in the Thursday opener of a 4-game series in St. Louis. First pitch at Busch Stadium is slated for 7:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 5-4

Chicago is coming off a 2-game sweep of its South Side neighbors, the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs have won 5 in a row and 7 of their last 8. Over that stretch, they have cranked out a .920 OPS. The Cubs are 6 games out of the lead in the NL Central and 4 1/2 games back in the Wild-Card race.

The Cardinals are back at home after a 3-4 road trip. That trip opened with St. Louis dropping 3 of 4 to the Cubs July 20-23.

Cubs at Cardinals projected starters

LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Miles Mikolas

Steele (10-3, 2.95 ERA) is tabbed for his 19th start. He has logged a 1.11 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings.

• Last start: W, 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 4-3 win vs. Cardinals Friday
• 2023 road stats: 3-1, 2.93 ERA in 7 starts (.650 OPS allowed)
• Last 5 vs. Cardinals: 3-1, 3.86 ERA (2021-23)
• Has yielded more than 2 runs in just 2 of his last 7 starts

Mikolas (6-5, 4.33 ERA) is making his 23rd start of the season. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 in 126 2/3 innings.

• Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 5 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 8-6 loss at Cubs Saturday
• 2023 home stats: 2-2, 4.95 ERA in 56 1/3 IP
• Last 5 vs. Cubs: 1-1, 3.56 ERA (2022-23)
• Owns a 4.89 ERA since June 16

Cubs at Cardinals odds

FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:51 a.m. ET.

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Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 5, Cardinals 4

Steele has been a favorite of -127 or better in each of his last 5 starts. He owns a 3.52 ERA over his last 5 starts and that’s with a .341 batting average on balls in play. Over the last 2 seasons, has been quite sharp in the back half of consecutive games against the same foe.

The Cubs’ won-loss record does not compute. At 4.91 runs per game and 4.44 RPG allowed, they figure as due for a good 2d half (and are off to one).

The Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road-series openers. BACK CHICAGO (+102).

In winning 7 of their last 8, the Cubs have won by multiple runs 6 times. But PASS on the current tag.

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Criss-crossing signals here, and there’s no value in playing a small edge either way. PASS.

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