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Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs can lock in home field for the NL wild-card round with a win Saturday over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Chicago exploded for a 12-1 victory in the opener as Seiya Suzuki hit a grand slam and Kyle Tucker returned from the IL. Jameson Taillon gets the ball for the Cubs against rookie Michael McGreevy.
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Line Movement and Odds
At open, the Cubs were -165 on the moneyline. By Saturday morning, Chicago had moved to -172 while St. Louis sat at +145. The runline lists Cubs -1.5 at +118, Cardinals +1.5 at -141. The total opened at 9 and is still there, with over -121 and under +100.
Public tickets lean heavily to the Cubs, but sharper money has grabbed Cardinals +1.5 with reduced juice. You can follow live MLB odds for updated moves.
Matchup Breakdown
Cubs outlook: Taillon has been sharp down the stretch with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Chicago’s lineup ranks fifth in slugging and home runs, giving them a consistent power edge. Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong both reached the 30-HR, 30-SB milestone, providing postseason momentum.
Cardinals outlook: McGreevy has been steady for a rookie, posting an 8-3 record with a 4.35 ERA. St. Louis is eighth in doubles and 11th in quality starts, but their bullpen has been worn down. With key bats sidelined, the Cards need Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman to spark the offense.
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Injuries and Conditions
- Kyle Tucker (hand) activated, expected to DH.
- Nico Hoerner (wrist) remains day-to-day.
- Willson Contreras (back) out for the season.
- Brendan Donovan (shoulder) unavailable.
Full details are in the Cubs and Cardinals game results page
Weather: Clear skies and mild temps at first pitch, no wind concerns.
Best Bets and Prediction
Trends support Chicago, who are 7-3 in Taillon’s last 10 starts. St. Louis is 3-8 in their past 11 as a road dog. My projection: Cubs 5, Cardinals 3.
Best bet: Cubs moneyline -172.
Secondary lean: Under 9 (+100).
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