The Chicago Cubs are 12-1 over their last 13 games including a current stretch of nine straight wins. The Cubs will try to extend their winning streak and their lead in the NL Central in a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals starting on Thursday.
Cardinals vs. Cubs 2016 odds: Red-hot Chicago a big favorite vs St. Louis on Thursday night
The Cubs host the rival Cardinals in a four-game series starting this Thursday night, with Chicago a big betting favorite for the opener.
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Chicago is a minus-170 favorite at Wrigley Field for Thursday’s series opener at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Jon Lester takes the hill for the Cubs against Carlos Martinez and the Cardinals at plus-150.
The Cubs were swept by the Cardinals at home back in late June, sparking a 6-15 skid heading into the All-Star break. But since coming out of the break, Chicago has looked refocused and ready for a run at the World Series with an 18-6 record.
The Cubs have been outstanding all year long on the mound, boasting the best team ERA at 3.13 and the best ERA among starters in the majors at 2.94.
One of the most consistent contributors to Chicago's outstanding pitching this season has been Thursday's starter Jon Lester. The Cubs are 10-3 in Lester's last 13 starts per the OddsShark MLB Database.
With 12 games separating the Cardinals from the Cubs in the NL Central, the Cards’ more realistic path into the playoffs figures to be a wild card spot. St. Louis is mired in a close race for one of the two wild card spots with the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Cardinals haven’t been doing themselves any favors with a 4-7 record in their last 11 games.
St. Louis is 1-4 in its last five games on the road and 3-6 in its last nine games with Martinez on the mound heading into Thursday’s Cardinals vs. Cubs matchup.
This year’s Cubs team is an extremely competitive and proud group, and they’ve probably had this series circled since being swept at Wrigley back in June. Friday’s pitching matchup is set with Jake Arrieta against Adam Wainwright, followed by Kyle Hendricks against Luke Weaver on Saturday and John Lackey vs. Mike Leake in prime time on Sunday night.
