Cardinals vs. Cubs (August 25): Cards, Cubbies set for high-scoring finale?

After splitting the first four games of their series, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are set for a rubber game this afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Last night, the Cubs were sharp at the plate and on the mound in a 7-1 win. Little went right for the Cards, including Nolan Arenado getting ejected at the end of the third inning.

Arenado is ejected after a check-swing third strike call that ended the inning.

TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/M4t6YHHY8M#STLCards pic.twitter.com/VX6oLCIUbp

— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) August 25, 2022

With the Milwaukee Brewers off today, St. Louis has a chance to extend their lead in the NL Central to six games ahead of a visit from the high-flying Atlanta Braves.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals (71-53, 31-32 away, 1st in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (54-70, 28-37 home, 3rd in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, Illinois)
• Date: Thursday, August 25, 2022
• Game Time: 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time (1:20 p.m. local time)
• Cardinals vs. Cubs TV Info: MLB Network

Cardinals vs. Cubs Pitching Matchup

• St. Louis Cardinals: Dakota Hudson (2022: 22 starts, 6-6, 4.33 ERA)
• Chicago Cubs: Marcus Stroman (2022: 17 starts, 3-5, 3.83 ERA)

Cardinals vs. Cubs Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also include odds from other top online sports betting sites.

Moneyline

• St. Louis Cardinals -116
• Chicago Cubs -102

Over/Under

• Over 9.5 (-110)
• Under 9.5 (-110)

Run Line

• St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+132)
• Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-160)

Offense to Stand Out in Series Finale at Wrigley

After two tight, low-scoring contests to start the series, the last two games have featured more scoring but have both been more one-sided.

This afternoon’s series finale may well end up being one-sided, but both offenses should have some success.

Hudson has had an issue with pitching deep into games all season, exiting short of five completed innings ten times in his 22 starts and lasting only five four times.

On the road, Hudson has gone five innings only five times in 12 starts, including just once in his last five road starts.

Short starts aren’t always poor starts, but he has allowed four or more five times on the road, including in his most recent start against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday (4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K).

It didn’t hurt the team though, as the bats racked up 16 runs and 18 hits in a nine-run win, but he’ll certainly be expected to fare better in today’s matchup, which will be his first start against the Cubs this season.

Season Splits for Dakota Hudson

• Home (10 starts): 4-2, 3.25 ERA, 55.1 IP, 50 H, 20 R (20 ER), 3 HR, 18 BB, 30 K, .251 OBA, 1.22 WHIP
• Away (12 starts): 2-4, 5.34 ERA, 59 IP, 59 H, 36 R (35 ER), 5 HR, 35 BB, 36 K, .274 OBA, 1.59 WHIP

While Hudson has been poorer on the road, Stroman’s home splits are poorer.

Season Splits for Marcus Stroman

• Home (7 starts): 0-3, 6.62 ERA, 35.1 IP, 33 H, 28 R (26 ER), 8 HR, 14 BB, 40 K, .243 OBA, 1.33 WHIP
• Away (10 starts): 3-2, 2.08 ERA, 56.1 IP, 47 H, 18 R (13 ER), 4 HR, 11 BB, 43 K, .224 OBA, 1.03 WHIP

His worst start of the season came against the Cardinals at home on June 3. In a 14-5 loss, he allowed nine runs and 10 hits (including three homers).

After that start, he went on the injured list for a month with shoulder inflammation. He has yet to lose in eight starts since his returning, but his numbers have dropped off a bit this month after he allowed only two runs in four starts last month.

But he had his best home start of the season–and his longest start of the season–last time out against the Brewers last Saturday. In 7.2 innings, he allowed two runs, two hits, and four walks and struck out five.

He could be in some trouble today, based on what the Cardinals have done recently.

In a run that has seen them win 20 of their last 26 games, St. Louis has scored five or more runs 18 times. Additionally, they are 8-1 in their last nine games following a loss and have scored five or more runs in all but one win, a 3-1 win over Milwaukee almost two weeks ago.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction and Picks

Cardinals vs. Cubs Prediction: Cardinals to win

Cardinals vs. Cubs Picks: St. Louis team total over 4.5 runs (Best Value: -122 at BetOnline) & Cardinals/Cubs over 9.5 (Best Value: -110 at Bovada Sportsbook, BetMGM & BetOnline)

There have been ten or more total runs six times in Hudson’s last eight road starts, while there have been 11 combined runs in each of Stroman’s home starts this month.

Plenty of runs should be on the board today at Wrigley, but most of them should be by St. Louis. Look for them to continue their great run with rebounding from losses.

That expected outcome means that the run line is also worth consideration. In their 20-6 run, the Cards have won by 2+ runs 15 times, and in their last eight wins following a loss, they have won by 2+ runs each time.

More Cardinals vs. Cubs Content

• Cardinals vs. Cubs Odds, Stats & Trends (8/25)