Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

Colby Marchio - Contributor at Covers.com
Colby Marchio • Betting Analyst 7+ years betting experience
Updated: Aug 16, 2026 , 10:08 AM ET • 4 min read

The Cardinals own a 19.6% strikeout rate, 9.6% walk rate, and 108 wRC+ over their last 12 games, making them a delectable underdog this afternoon.

MLB

Match starts: 4 hrs
STL
48 %
CHC
52 %
EXPERT PICK - PROP
Seiya Suzuki o0.5  Total Home Runs (+474) Seiya Suzuki o0.5 Total Home Runs (+474)
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St. Louis Cardinals Joshua Baez MLB
Photo By - Reuters Connect. St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Joshua Baez (22) hits a two-run home run.

Looking for some action on the North Side this afternoon? 

Look no further, as I have you covered with my Cardinals vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 16.

After an 8-4 Cardinals win on Saturday, I believe St. Louis will take the series at Wrigley Field this afternoon.

Who will win Cardinals vs Cubs today: Cardinals moneyline (+146)

You can already hear the low-hanging-fruit crowd:

“Joshua Baez is due to go 0-for-4 today.”

“Now that Edward Cabrera is back, the Cubs are going to win this game over the Cardinals.”

Are they?

Before Chicago Cubs starter Edward Cabrera went on the injured list, he posted a 7.59 ERA over his last five outings while allowing a 50% hard-hit rate.

On the other side, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins has been extremely serviceable in his last five starts, sporting a 3.25 ERA, 2.77 xERA, and 1.23 WHIP while allowing minimal hard contact and barrels.

With this being Cabrera’s return, and considering how poorly he looked before his injury, the Cardinals look pretty delectable Sunday afternoon. 

Take St. Louis down to +120. 

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Cardinals own a 19.6% strikeout rate, 9.6% walk rate, and 108 wRC+ over their last 12 games.

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Cardinals vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+114)

After the Cardinals took down the Cubs 8-4 on Saturday afternoon, Sunday should not be nearly as offensively explosive.

The Cardinals do sit in a great spot offensively against Cabrera, but replicating that level of production after Saturday's outburst will be tough. There will be runs, but this one should stay Under 8.5.

Dobbins has shut down opposing hitters on the road, with opponents posting just a .216 xBA, .377 xSLG, and .190 ISO against him.

With the Cardinals coming off such an explosive Saturday, and Dobbins pitching well on the road, a much quieter offensive game should be in store Sunday.

Do not pay juice for this one.

Cardinals vs Cubs home run prediction: Seiya Suzuki (+474)

The one player who jumped out to me as a possible long-ball candidate is Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who's been seeing the ball extremely well over his last 10 games. 

The Cubs slugger sports a .538 SLG, .256 ISO, 27.3% ground-ball rate, and 12.1% barrel rate in that span.

Hunter Dobbins has struggled against right-handed hitters this season, allowing them to hit .284 with a .500 SLG, and .371 wOBA. Over the last 30 right-handed hitters he has faced, they are sporting a .404 xBA, .579 xSLG, and .253 ISO, while Dobbins owns a 7.15 ERA.

Playable down to +400.

Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Full Season Record: 402-775, -10.9u
  • Home Run Record: 101-354, +11.4u

Cardinals vs Cubs weather

The weather on the North Side of Chicago will be humid, with temperatures in the low 80s and 10.3 mph winds blowing out to right field, creating a hitter-friendly matchup.

Cardinals vs Cubs odds

  • Moneyline: Cardinals +146 | Cubs -161
  • Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-148) | Cubs -1.5 (+129)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-126) | Under 8.5 (+114)

Cardinals vs Cubs trend

The Under is 9-1 in the Cardinals' last 10 road games. Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Cubs.

How to watch Cardinals vs Cubs and game info

Location Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date Sunday, August 16, 2026
First pitch 3:15 p.m. ET
TV ABC
Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins
(2-3, 3.40 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera
(5-4, 5.10 ERA)

Cardinals vs Cubs latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Colby Marchio
Betting Analyst

Colby Marchio is a two-time DePaul alum and former Division 1 (club) baseball player who has been sports betting since 2019. Since graduating in 2021, he has worked throughout the media circuit, hosting and appearing on various television and radio shows while making countless guest appearances discussing Major League Baseball, college basketball, college football, and the National Football League.

A self-proclaimed numbers nerd, Colby may enjoy digging through the data even more than winning itself. That passion is why his two favorite sports to cover are college basketball and Major League Baseball. 

As for his favorite sportsbook, it is whichever one has the best price, or whichever one is not taxing him as an Illinois resident. 

You can find all of his plays and more @ColbyMBets on Twitter/X.

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