by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Jun 03, 2022
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Where to watch: Bally Sports Midwest, Marquee Sports Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
BetMGM: Even
Caesars: Even
Season record
Cardinals: 29-22
Cubs: 22-29
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Cardinals - Cubs preview and analysis
Safe to say it was expected for the St. Louis Cardinals to come back down from Earth after sweeping the San Diego Padres over the weekend. That’s exactly what happened with the Cardinals after losing the series opener to the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Thursday.
The Cubs hit homers early and often, and that’s how they put a stranglehold in this game. The Cubs got homers from Wilson Contreras, Frank Schwindel and Ian Happ all leading up to the fourth inning. The latter two turned a 2-1 Cardinals lead into a 3-2 Cubs lead and nothing else happened from there.
"We're putting in the time with cage work and scouting work and I think we're coming out hot and scoring early and putting pressure on them," Schwindel said. "We're getting a lot of good swings, a lot of hard contact. That's what the plan is.”
Here’s what we can gather from the Cubs: They’re not going to wow anyone with the personnel. You look at this lineup and you don’t immediately see superstar contributors that can make a difference on a nightly basis. So much so, that the Cubs are a fringe .500 team now 14-16 in their last 30 games and only 10-17 at home.
The Cubs are still looking for a dominant arm, but they have an undefeated Keegan Thompson after giving up just five hits in 5.1 innings in his second straight start.
"It's going to be fun," Thompson said. "Like I said before, whether it's starting or relieving or whatever, I'm just trying to go out there and throw strikes and give the team a chance to win."
After winning his MLB debut, Matthew Liberatore came back to Earth on after going just 3.1 innings but was tagged for those three homers.
"Young kid up here for the first time and making some adjustments on the fly," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. "So overall, his demeanor and overall capability's there. He's just got some developing to do, which is expected."
The Cardinals have still won five of their last seven, but like the Cubs’ home troubles, the Cardinals are a pedestrian 13-11 on the road.
"It's you versus you out there," Liberatore said. "And it's your ability to go out and execute pitches, and I didn't do a great job of that today. And I know what I need to work on."
Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the Cardinals, while Marcus Stroman gets the call for the Cubs. Talk about a fun pitching matchup. I’m here for it.
Prediction
As much as I like Stroman, I have a hard time going against Mikolas. And I think the Cardinals are going to need their top pitcher right now to have a great start. I expect that to be the case here. Cardinals win 5-2
Betting trends
Cardinals are 27-10 the past three seasons on the road with a line between -100 and -150.
Cardinals are 23-17 this season against right-handed starters.
Cubs are 2-6 when Stroman starts this season.
Projected lineup
Cardinals:
Tommy Edman (S) SS
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Juan Yepez (R) LF
Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
Albert Pujols (R) DH
Yadier Molina (R) C
Lars Nootbaar (L) RF
Harrison Bader (R) CF
SP - Miles Mikolas
Cubs:
Christopher Morel (R) CF
Willson Contreras (R) DH
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Frank Schwindel (R) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Ian Happ (S) LF
Clint Frazier (R) RF
P.J. Higgins (R) C
Nick Madrigal (R) 2B
SP - Marcus Stroman
Statistical leaders
Cardinals:
Batting average: Paul Goldschmidt – .349
Hits: Paul Goldschmidt – 66
Home runs: Paul Goldschmidt – 11
RBI: Paul Goldschmidt – 44
Wins: Adam Wainwright – 5
Saves: Giovanny Gallegos – 8
ERA: Miles Mikolas – 2.67
Cubs:
Batting average: Wilson Contreras – .278
Hits: Three tied – 42
Home runs: Patrick Wisdom – 11
RBI: Two tied – 27
Wins: Keegan Thompson – 6
Saves: David Robertson – 7
ERA: Keegan Thompson – 1.99
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
