Cubs vs Cardinals Prediction - MLB Picks 7/30/23

St. Louis Cardinals (46-60) vs Chicago Cubs (53-51)

Game Info: Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 2:15 pm (Busch Stadium)

Steven Matz (1-7) (4.34) vs Kyle Hendricks (4-4) (3.58)

Betting Odds: St. Louis Cardinals -156 / Chicago Cubs +125 --- Over/Under: 9 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs will conclude their divisional series this Sunday from Busch Stadium. Chicago took game three behind a solid outing from Jameson Taillon, 5-1

Cubs Preview & Projected Starter

Chicago comes in at 53-51 following the win over St. Louis. The Cubs have come out of the break rejuvenated, as they’ve won ten of their previous eleven games. The Chicago offense is scoring 4.12 runs per game, while batting .243, with a .323 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.18 ERA, with a 1.28 WHIP.

Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.45 ERA, 46 Ks) will take the bump for Chicago. The longtime Cubs showed up for his Windy City Showdown matchup last time out, going 6.1 innings against the White Sox, and earning his fourth win. Hendricks continues to be a reliable staple for the Chicago rotation, and five of his last seven outings have resulted in quality starts.

Cubs Player Trends & Props

• Cody Bellinger has collected a hit in eight of the last ten games, and he’s leading the Cubs in batting (.315), with fifteen home runs and 46 RBI.

• Christopher Morel has produced a run in five of the previous seven games, and he’s posting identical stats of sixteen homers and 48 RBI.

• Nico Hoerner has recorded a base knock in five of the last six contests, and he leads the Cubbies in hits (112) and RBI (57).

• Dansby Swanson has plated a run in six of the previous nine games, and he’s posting splits of .266/12/47.

• Longtime Cub Ian Happ went yard in the game three victory, and he’s averaging a line of .248/10/48.

Cardinals Preview & Projected Starter

St. Louis moved to 46-60 after falling to Chicago. The Cardinals have dropped seven of their last nine games, and the poor stretch has possibly served as the final nail in the coffin on their season. The St. Louis' offense is scoring 3.97 runs per game, while batting .258, with a .328 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.64 ERA, with a 1.49 WHIP.

Steven Matz (1-7, 4.34 ERA, 85 Ks) will start for St. Louis. The eighth-year left hander has rejoined the rotation after a stint in the bullpen, and it appears the move paid off. Matz struck out six through six scoreless frames against Arizona last time out, marking his third straight strong road start this month. The other two starts happened to come in Chicago, tossing a season-high nine strikeouts in the Southside against the White Sox, before going to Wrigley and holding the Cubs to one run through five innings. Matz’ improvements are a good sign, and he’ll look to keep things going Sunday.

Cardinals Player Trends & Props

• Nolan Arenado has recorded a hit in seven of the last ten games, and he’s first on the team in home runs (22) and RBI (77), and he’s batting .282.

• Paul Goldschmidt has also collected a hit in seven of the previous ten games, and he leads the Cards in hits (112), with splits of .281/18/55.

• Wilson Contreras has reached base in seven of his last eight appearances, and he’s batting .249, with 40 RBI.

• Nolan Gorman is tied for the team-lead in homers (22), with 65 RBI totaled.

Corey’s Free Pick

Are the Cardinals really about to drop four straight at home? There’s a very good chance of it happening, as the momentum from both clubs feels like too much to look away from. The Cubs have hit a switch post-All Star break, while the Cards have failed to shift things to a new gear. Uninspiring baseball has been played in St. Louis this season, and they should be targeted from here on out. I like the profitable shot with Chicago here, but spotting them the runs here in game four feels a bit more secure.