Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd is 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA in six starts since returning from injury. Chicago has scored 35 runs in its past four games and leads MLB with an .874 OPS over the past seven days. St. Lous has dropped nine of 11 and has scored three or fewer runs eight times in that stretch. Even with Dustin May pitching well in three of his last four starts, I'll back the visitors and their stacked lineup.
St. Louis has lost four straight games when Dustin May takes the mound. The Cardinals have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, hitting just .235, and now face Matthew Boyd, who has continued to improve after a rocky start to the year. St. Louis' bullpen has been a liability, posting a 4.31 ERA, while the Cubs have shown more consistency throughout their lineup, hitting .332 over their last seven days.
I know Busch Stadium can be a tough place to play, but not as tough as these odds would indicate. First off, nobody’s scored fewer runs at home than the Cardinals. So Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, who is 5-0 over his last seven starts with a 2.41 ERA, should get run support from the bats vs. Dustin May (5.75 July ERA). Chicago is 9-2 on the year when Boyd gets the ball. The Cubs have won four of five, scoring seven-plus in four straight, including both so far this series.
This is a big number for Dustin May who has been largely inconsistent this season from the mound. It is also a tough matchup against a hot Cubs lineup that ranks second in Weighted On Base Average over the last 30 days. The Cubs also possess strong career numbers against May.
Swanson isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.
Kelly isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals recalled Baez from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Suzuki went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in Friday's 3-0 victory over the Cardinals.
Hoerner went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals.
Liberatore (5-10) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over 5.1 innings as the Cardinals fell 3-0 to the Cubs. He struck out six.
Holmes (5-5) tossed 6.2 scoreless innings to earn the win in Friday's 3-0 victory over the Cardinals. He allowed a hit and a walk, and struck out three.
Webb worked around a hit to toss a scoreless ninth inning and record the save in Friday's 3-0 victory over the Cardinals. He struck out one.
St. Louis manager Oli Marmol said Friday that Baez will be in the Cardinals' lineup against the Cubs on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
