MLB Total Guide: Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals - 7/12

Game Summary

The Chicago Cubs will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 12 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. This matchup features two teams from the National League Central division, each looking to gain ground in the standings. The Cubs, with a record of 48-44, are currently ranked 13th overall, while the Cardinals, with a 45-49 record, hold the 19th spot. The Cubs have had a slightly better season so far, but both teams have shown their strengths and weaknesses. The Cubs' Sonny Gray will take the mound against the Cardinals' Kyle Hendricks in what promises to be an intriguing pitching duel.

Odds and Betting Lines

Market	Odds
Over/Under	8.5
Chicago Cubs Moneyline	100
St. Louis Cardinals Moneyline	-122

Pitching Probables

Pitcher	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	H	K	BB	HR
Sonny Gray (CHC)	9-5	3.30	1.04	92.2	72	115	24	8
Kyle Hendricks (STL)	1-7	7.53	1.58	63.1	80	47	20	13

Team Previews

Chicago Cubs

Hitting: The Cubs have recorded 761 hits (16th), 378 runs (23rd), and have a batting average of .244 (16th). Masyn Winn leads the team with a .286 batting average. Nolan Gorman is their top home run hitter with 17 homers, and Alec Burleson has driven in 48 runs.

Relief Pitching: The Cubs' bullpen has been impressive, with 34 saves, ranking 1st in the league.

Fielding: The Cubs have committed 46 errors, ranking them tied for 19th.

Starting Pitchers: Sonny Gray has been a standout in the rotation with a 9-5 record and a 3.30 ERA. The team’s ERA stands at 3.98, placing them 15th in the league.

St. Louis Cardinals

Hitting: The Cardinals have 712 hits (25th), 387 runs (19th), and a .231 batting average (23rd). Michael Busch is the team’s leading hitter with a .278 average. Christopher Morel has hit 16 home runs, and Ian Happ leads with 56 RBIs.

Relief Pitching: The Cardinals' bullpen has 21 saves, ranking tied for 18th in the league.

Fielding: The Cardinals have committed 51 errors, ranking them 13th.

Starting Pitchers: Kyle Hendricks has struggled this season with a 1-7 record and a 7.53 ERA. The team’s ERA is 3.85, which is 12th in the league.

Team Injuries

Chicago Cubs

Player Name	Position	Injury	Injury Status
Jordan Wicks	SP	Oblique	Expected to be out until at least Aug 1
Cody Bellinger	CF	Finger	Expected to be out until at least Jul 21

St. Louis Cardinals

Player Name	Position	Injury	Injury Status
Ivan Herrera	C	Back	Expected to be out until at least Jul 12

Betting Trends

• The Cubs are 43-49 on the moneyline this season.
• The Cardinals are 48-42 on the moneyline this season.
• The Cubs have a 40-52 record against the spread.
• The Cardinals have a 46-44 record against the spread.
• The Cubs have a 41-49-2 record on the totals.
• The Cardinals have a 39-47-4 record on the totals.

Recent Games

Chicago Cubs

Opponent	Score	W/L
vs Los Angeles	W 5-0	W
@ Baltimore	W 9-2	W
@ Baltimore	W 4-0	W
@ Baltimore	W 8-0	W
vs Kansas City	L 6-4	L

St. Louis Cardinals

Opponent	Score	W/L
@ Washington	W 8-3	W
@ Washington	W 6-0	W
vs Kansas City	L 6-4	L
vs Kansas City	L 8-5	L
vs Chicago	W 8-5	W

Team Rankings

Category	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals
Hitting	16th	23rd
Starting Pitching	15th	12th
Relief Pitching	1st	18th
Fielding	19th	13th

Significant Betting Stats

• St. Louis Cardinals have a better home record (25-21) compared to their away record (20-28).
• Sonny Gray has a solid ERA of 3.30, indicating strong performances.
• Kyle Hendricks has struggled with a 7.53 ERA this season.
• The Cubs’ bullpen ranks 1st in the league with 34 saves.
• Chicago Cubs have a balanced record both at home (24-20) and on the road (24-24).
• St. Louis Cardinals have committed fewer errors (51) compared to the Cubs (46).
• Chicago Cubs have scored fewer runs (378) compared to the Cardinals (387).
• The Cubs are 15th in ERA, indicating average pitching performance overall.
• Despite their struggles, the Cardinals' pitching staff has a better ERA (3.85) compared to the Cubs (3.98).
• Both teams have similar overall records, with the Cubs slightly ahead (48-44 vs. 45-49).

Weather

Partly sunny with thunderstorms, with a temperature of 85°F. For more detailed weather information, visit AccuWeather.

Prediction

Given the current form of both teams and the pitching matchup, this game is likely to see a lot of runs. Sonny Gray has been solid for the Cubs, but Kyle Hendricks has struggled significantly for the Cardinals. The Cardinals' bats may come alive against Gray, while the Cubs should be able to exploit Hendricks' weaknesses. With both teams showing inconsistency in pitching and decent hitting stats, betting on the over 8.5 runs seems like a solid choice.