TOM'S MLB DIVISION GAME OF THE WEEK
- Handicapper
- Tom Stryker
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals
- Release Date
- 06/23/2025 09:23 AM
- Event Date
- 06/23/2025 07:45 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Chicago Cubs -105
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- #905 CUBS with Brown (-) over Cardinals with Liberatore at 7:45 PM EST
Off yesterday's blowout home loss to the M's and with blemishes in three of their last four games, the Cubs will travel to Redbirds Country and pick up a huge division win. Chicago is clinging to a 3.5-game lead over Milwaukee and a 4.5-game advantage over St. Louis and manager Craig Counsell and his crew needs this win to establish a little more breathing room in the standings.
Hitting the hill for the visitors will be right-hander Ben Brown. With 15 appearances in the books including 13 starts, No. 32 has surrendered only 46 earned runs and 85 hits in 74.1 innings of work. Ben whiffed 88 and walked 25 on his way to a 4-5 tally with a 5.57 ERA. In his last four performances versus the Brew Crew, Phillies, Tigers, and Reds, Brown was bumped for 10 earned runs and 22 hits in 23.2 innings. That adds up to a 1-2 mark with a respectable 3.80 ERA.
Left-hander Matthew Liberatore will toe the rubber for the home squad. So far this year, No. 52 has made 14 starts and been cracked for 36 earned runs and 81 hits in 79.1 frames. Matthew fanned 66 and issued 11 free passes on his way to a 4-6 record with a 4.08 ERA. Even worse, in three June outings against the White Sox, Blue Jays, and Royals, Liberatore was hammered for 14 earned runs and 22 hits in 15.0 innings. After the math, that equates to a 1-2 mark with an elevated 8.40 ERA.
This is actually a solid wagering spot for the Northsider's Chicago has won 23 of its last 30 when coming off a loss, 21 of its last 37 on foreign soil, 36 of its last 62 when rolling without rest, and 12 of its last 18 in division play. On the other side of the chalk line, St. Louis has fallen in 24 of its last 45 against winning teams.
The Cubs play four straight on the road against the Cardinals and, after falling by eight runs yesterday, they need to get out of the gate in this series quickly. Take Chicago with Brown. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
