There aren’t many rivalries in sports better than the one between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. The National League Central foes’ disdain for one another runs deep, resulting in great drama in the field.
Despite Game 1's lopsided result, Game 2 on Saturday should be more of a heated affair as this matchup opened at close to a toss-up with both sides on the board at -110.
Check out our MLB free picks and predictions for Cubs vs. Cardinals on Saturday, May 22, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
Cubs vs Cardinals game info
• Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
• Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021
• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
Cubs vs Cardinals odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
MLB Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonThis moneyline opened a -108 pick 'em at FanDuel, moved to St. Louis -118, then to Chicago -120, and it's Cubs -112 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Cubs are taking 59 percent of tickets and 53 percent of cash on the moneyline. The total dipped from 8.5 to 8 a couple of times and is now 8.5 (Under -115), with 72 percent of tickets/73 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameCubs vs Cardinals betting preview
Starting pitchers
Adbert Alzolay (2-3, 4.62 ERA): Alzolay is an exciting young arm in the Cubs’ rotation. The right-hander has a devastating slider but didn’t have his best stuff last time out against Washington but hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last six starts and has 35 strikeouts compared to just five walks over than span.
Miles Mikolas (0-0, 0.00 ERA): Mikolas will pitch in a Big League game for the first time since 2019 on Saturday. The Cardinals’ right-hander had surgery on his forearm last spring and injured his shoulder this spring but is stretched out and ready to go in this one. Mikolas will try to find the form that got him an All-Star nod in 2018.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Cubs: Jason Heyward RF (Out), Justin Steele RP (Out), Trevor Megill RP (Out), Alec Mills RP (Out), ROwan Wick RP (Out), Jonathan Holder RP (Out).
Cardinals: Paul DeJong SS (Out), ANdrew Miller RP (Out), Jordan Hicks RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings between the Cubs and Cardinals. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.
Moneyline pick
The Cardinals look like the class of the NL Central at the moment, but the Cubs aren’t far behind, sitting in second place, and gave the Cards all they could handle in Game 1. It’s right into the frying pan for Mikolas.
The Cubs’ bats are in a groove right now, having plated four or more runs seven times in their last eight games. Overall, the Cubbies rank 10th in scoring, 11th in batting average, and eighth in OPS.
Mikolas has a career 3.82 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, and while he has, for the most part, pitched very well in this rivalry, this is a tough spot to make your first start in almost two years.
Countering Mikolas is Alzolay, who has an amazing wipeout slider, but has a sinker that does not sink at times. That said, the young right-hander has been incredibly consistent for the Cubs and faces a St. Louis lineup that ranks 20th in batting average and 16th in OPS against right-handers this season.
Considering we’re not sure what the Cards will get out of Mikolas, combined with the fact he is going up against a hot Cubbies lineup, means the value lies with Chicago.
PREDICTION: Cubs (-110)
Over/Under pick
When it comes to the total, the Under isn’t automatic here, but these teams just have a tendency to play tight, low-scoring ball games and it wouldn’t be crazy if that happened again in this game.
For the Cubs, as noted, Alzolay is probably good to give up a few runs, but the Cubs pitching staff as a whole has been much better of late allowing three runs or fewer in seven of their last nine games. The Cubbies’ bullpen has also been a bit of a surprise ranking fourth in ERA and opponent batting average.
And while you can’t be sure how Mikolas will perform in his first start in a long time, he has been comfortable pitching in this rivalry. The right-hander has a 1.57 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in eight career starts against the Cubs. This number feels just high enough for these guys to sneak below it.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-110)
Cubs vs Cardinals betting card
- Cubs (-110)
- Under 8.5 (-110)
Picks made on 5/21/2021 at 10:45 p.m. ET
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