PREMIUM
Rogers' Sunday Night SHOWDOWN >> $31,060 Since May 1st! <<
(MLB) St. Louis vs. Chi Cubs,
Money Line: -173.00 Chi Cubs (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -173.00 Chi Cubs (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Cubs' six-game winning streak came to a crashing halt on Friday, when the Cardinals scored nine runs with no outs in the eighth, for an 11-4 win at Wrigley. However, Chicago turned the tables on St. Louis Saturday afternoon, rallying for two runs in the eighth inning for a 3-2 victory. Milwaukee also won on Saturday, so the Cubs remain a game back of Milwaukee but they put an extra game between themselves and the Cards plus the Pirates, who lost at Colorado. The two longtime rivals square off tonight on ESPN in the rubber match of this three-game series.
The pitching matchup: Michael Wacha (7-3 & 3.71 ERA) takes teh mound for St. Louis and the newly-acquired Jose Quintana (5-8 & 4.20 ERA) for Chicago. Wacha is starting to regain the form he first showed in the 2013 postseason and the 2015 regular season, when he won 17 games. He has won four straight starts and five consecutive decisions after throwing a three-hit shutout against the New York Mets on Tuesday. He has been dominant during his four-start winning streak, with a 1.01 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. However, Wacha is 4-5 with a 6.26 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cubs (Cards are 5-7). Quintana will make his first start as a Cub at Wrigley Field, where he is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA in two previous outings.Quintana was dominant in his Cubs debut last Sunday, racking up 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings to win at Baltimore, and he's eager to pitch in front of his new home crowd. "I'm really excited to be part of this team and throw Sunday against the Cardinals," Quintana told reporters. "I'm excited, man, I'm excited. I don't know what the fans will say to me, but I'll try to do the best." Quintana has won both of his previous starts against the Cardinals, in 2012 and 2015, while allowing two runs over 11 1/3 innings (1.59 ERA).
The pick: Wacha's lack of success vs. the Cubs should be a concern for St. Louis backers (not I), plus the move from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side will prove to be "just what the doctor ordered" for Quintana. Make the Cubs an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Michael Wacha (7-3 & 3.71 ERA) takes teh mound for St. Louis and the newly-acquired Jose Quintana (5-8 & 4.20 ERA) for Chicago. Wacha is starting to regain the form he first showed in the 2013 postseason and the 2015 regular season, when he won 17 games. He has won four straight starts and five consecutive decisions after throwing a three-hit shutout against the New York Mets on Tuesday. He has been dominant during his four-start winning streak, with a 1.01 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. However, Wacha is 4-5 with a 6.26 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cubs (Cards are 5-7). Quintana will make his first start as a Cub at Wrigley Field, where he is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA in two previous outings.Quintana was dominant in his Cubs debut last Sunday, racking up 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings to win at Baltimore, and he's eager to pitch in front of his new home crowd. "I'm really excited to be part of this team and throw Sunday against the Cardinals," Quintana told reporters. "I'm excited, man, I'm excited. I don't know what the fans will say to me, but I'll try to do the best." Quintana has won both of his previous starts against the Cardinals, in 2012 and 2015, while allowing two runs over 11 1/3 innings (1.59 ERA).
The pick: Wacha's lack of success vs. the Cubs should be a concern for St. Louis backers (not I), plus the move from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side will prove to be "just what the doctor ordered" for Quintana. Make the Cubs an 8* play.
