Published May 28, 9:46pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 28, 9:46pm ET
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Updated May 28, 9:46pm ET
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| St. Louis Cardinals | +121 |
| Chicago Cubs | -133 |
The Cubs seem to have gotten beyond their recent funk and a 10-game losing streak. In the first game of their 3-game set in St. Louis against the archrival Cardinals, they send Shota Imanaga to the mound.
In his last two starts, Imanaga has allowed 15 earned runs in 10.1 innings to the Brewers and Astros, respectively. He's given up 5 home runs in those games. Those starts blew up his ERA to 4.04. His overall numbers remain solid. He's thrown 64.2 innings, allowed 52 hits, and 29 earned runs, walking 17 and striking out 67.
Offense remains problematic for Chicago. Ian Happ is hitting .226, but has 12 homers. Dansby Swanson is still under .200. Moises Ballesteros has crashed to earth after a searing start. His average is down in the .230s. Pete Crow-Armstrong is also struggling.
Against Cardinals' starter Kyle Leahy, Michael Busch is 2 for 5 with a double. Crow-Armstrong is 2 for 5 with 2 singles. Carson Kelly is 1 for 2 with a double. Seiya Suzuki is 1 for 3 with a double. Swanson is 1 for 3 with a single. Alex Bregman is 1 for 3 with a single.
In his first season as a full-time starter, Kyle Leahy has shown promise. Still, he's a work in progress, as shown by his last start against the Reds when he gave up 5 earned runs and 7 hits in 5 innings.
For the season, he's tossed 50.2 innings, allowed 58 hits, and 25 earned runs, walking 22 and striking out 42.
St. Louis has lost 6 of 7, falling close to .500 where they were expected to be before the season started. They have been shaky on offense. Apart from Alec Burleson (.797 OPS), Jordan Walker (.944), and Ivan Herrera (.813), they have not hit much. Masyn Winn has a .623 OPS. Victor Scott II is at .520. Pedro Pages is at .622.
Walker is an early MVP candidate and is finally playing up to the lofty expectations that were attached to him on his big league arrival. He has 15 homers, a .300 batting average, and a .576 slugging percentage.
Imanaga has pitched well against the Cardinals in his career. Alec Burleson is 1 for 8 with a double. Nolan Gorman is 1 for 8 with a single. Herrera is 1 for 6 with a single. Pages is 1 for 9 with a home run. Winn is 4 for 12 with a homer. Walker is 1 for 3 with a single.
Both pitchers are coming off bad starts. Imanaga has a longer resume of effectiveness as a starter than Leahy does. Chicago seems to have broken their slump with two straight wins over the Pirates after their 10-game skid. The Cards are also struggling.
While the easy pick is to say the Cubs will continue their solid play behind Imanaga, the Cubs are still struggling at the plate and Leahy will handle them to get St. Louis the win.
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Pick
St. Louis Cardinals +121
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