Cardinals vs. Cubs MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: Pair of Props Worth Targeting in Chicago (Monday, August 22)
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images. Pictured: Paul Goldschmidt
- The Cardinals are strong road favorites in tonight's game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.
- St. Louis sends Jordan Montgomery to the mound, while Chicago will counter with Drew Smyly.
- Continue reading for a full breakdown of this matchup, including a betting pick.
Cardinals vs. Cubs Odds
| Cardinals Odds | -165 |
| Cubs Odds | +135 |
| Over/Under | 8 |
| Time | 8:05 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
Jordan Montgomery has been spectacular for the Cardinals since coming over in a deadline deal with the Yankees, allowing just a single earned run in three starts and collecting three-straight victories.
Veteran Drew Smyly has been on a similar run of dominance over his last three starts, and will oppose Montgomery for the Cubs in Monday's contest.
Will the pitchers dominate Monday at Wrigley?
Cardinals Crush Lefties
Over the last 30 days, St. Louis holds the best wRC+ in the league at 146, and led by the duo of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt the Cardinals have also been the most effective team in the league to this point against left-handed pitching.
Arenado has an OPS of .1000 and Goldschmidt has slugged .848 with an OPS of 1.375 vs lefties, and as a team the Cardinals have a wRC+ of 130, and have slugged .463 altogether this season.
Goldschmidt has remained in spectacular form over the last 12 games, slugging .826 which is the best mark in the MLB during that time. In those 12 contests he has put 10 balls in play with an exit velo of 95 mph or greater against left-handed pitching alone.
Throughout Smyly's career he has struggled against members of this Cardinals roster, pitching to an xwOBA of .347 in 57 PAs.
Montgomery's stuff has rated very effectively in St. Louis as evidenced by his 4.95 QOPA, and it seems possible a deal out of New York has at least for the time being given him a boost.
Those marks obviously aren't going to hold moving forward looking towards his 3.98 xERA on the season, but Montgomery's K/BB ratio of 4.4 is always going give him a strong chance at success.
Cubs Could Struggle Against Montgomery
Montgomery's numbers could continue against a Cubs roster which has hit to a wRC+ of just 98 and has struck out 24% of the time against left-handed pitching.
Chicago's recent numbers aren't much better as over the last 30 days Chicago has hit to a wRC+ of just 94 and a struck out 24.5% of the time.
Smyly has been on one of the better five-game runs over his last several seasons, allowing just nine earned runs in his last 31 innings.
However, his stuff has rated comparably to the rest of his season, and with no notable changes coming from the veteran he should still project as a lower middle of the pack starter moving forward.
Cardinals-Cubs Pick
Monday's matchup could be a good spot to back Smyly to regress closer to what we have come to expect.
On the other side, expect Montgomery to continue his run of dominance, and I see value backing him to pick up a win here at +145.
Goldschmidt's 12-game tear seems likely to continue as well against a middling lefty, and I would play his over 1.5 total bases down to -115.
Picks: Paul Goldschmidt Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110) | Jordan Montgomery To Record a Win (+140)
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