Cubs vs Cardinals Prediction, Picks & Odds — Friday, August 8

Cardinals SP Michael McGreevy doesn't miss bats and has been routinely hammered by left-handed hitters. Enter Ian Happ, who has cruised vs. righty hurlers in 2025 and will do so again tonight.

JD Yonke - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
JD Yonke • Betting Analyst
Aug 8, 2025 • 10:29 ET • 4 min read

MLB

Match starts: 6 hrs
STL
32 %
CHC
68 %
EXPERT PICK - PROP
Ian Happ o1.5  Hits, Runs, and RBIs (-115) Ian Happ o1.5 Hits, Runs, and RBIs (-115)
Read Analysis
Ian Happ Chicago Cubs MLB
Photo By - Imagn Images. Cubs OF Ian Happ has owned RHP like Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy.

The Chicago Cubs head to Busch Stadium for a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals tonight. 

My Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions are bullish on Ian Happ taking a few healthy hacks at the dish.

I explain why he'll clear his hits + runs + RBI prop with my MLB picks on Friday, August 8.

Cubs vs Cardinals prediction

Cubs vs Cardinals best bet: Ian Happ Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-115 at DraftKings)

The thing that stands out most about St. Louis Cardinals rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy is that he can’t figure out left-handed hitters. Lefties are slashing .301/.346/.452 against him, leading to a 1.50 WHIP.

The former first-round selection out of UCSB hasn’t proven to have big-league stuff, ranking 172nd in Stuff+ (89) out of 188 pitchers who have thrown 30+ innings. He hasn’t generated many whiffs (14th percentile), which has led to a 14.1% K rate (third percentile). 

McGreevy doesn’t issue many free passes (3.7% walk rate) and gives up plenty of base knocks with his .298 xBA (fourth percentile). This creates an open lane for Chicago Cubs hitters - and left-handed ones in particular - to do some damage at the dish. 

Ian Happ has collected a hit in eight of his last nine games. Of his 166 career home runs, 136 have come against RHP, against whom he has a 122 wRC+.

It’ll be a warm day at Busch Stadium with temperatures approaching 90 degrees, with winds of 10 mph blowing out to left field. Happ should capitalize on the favorable conditions and make McGreevy's day miserable.

Cubs vs Cardinals same-game parlay (SGP)

Ian Happ Over 1.5 H+R+RBI

Michael Busch Over 1.5 total bases

Cubs -1.5

Matthew Boyd has been one of baseball's most effective hurlers (2.34 ERA) and gives the Cubbies a great chance at pulling a win off on the road. They’ve won five of his last seven starts and have also regularly beaten opposing right-handed pitchers (50-30). 

Like Happ, Michael Busch stands to also expose McGreevy’s splits with his superb 162 wRC+ against right-handers.

Cubs vs Cardinals odds

Cubs vs Cardinals live odds

Cubs vs Cardinals opening odds

  • Moneyline: Chicago -160 | St. Louis +135
  • Run line: Chicago -1.5 (+100) | St. Louis +1.5 (-120)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)

Cubs vs Cardinals trend

Ian Happ has gone Over 1.5 H+R+RBIs in four of his last five games. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info

Location Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date Friday, August 8, 2025
First pitch 8:15 p.m. ET
TV Marquee, FDSN Midwest
Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd
(11-4, 2.34 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy
(3-2, 5.08 ERA)

Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries

Cubs vs Cardinals weather

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

JD is a diehard college football fan with five years of experience writing betting and fantasy content for publications such as SportsGrid, Fantasy Points, Fantrax, and Devy Watch. An avid reader, he uses his inclination to look at things with an exhausting and in-depth, analytic viewpoint combined with a love for statistics and metrics to form a well-rounded handicapping approach.

e's an integral member of the niche (but growing!) college fantasy football community, twice traveling to Canton, OH for the Fantasy Football Expo as a member of the CFF King's Classic drafting squad. His specialization in college football DFS and prop betting taught him that there are exploitable markets to be found and that narrowing your focus is integral to being a profitable bettor.

A lifelong Californian who grew up playing baseball, basketball, football, and lacrosse, he's glad to share a passionate love for sports with this wonderful community.

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