Predictions, Odds, and Starting Pitchers for St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs Game on Saturday, August 3

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) throws a pitch in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, July 29, 2024. The Reds led 3-0 after four innings.

• We’ve made our Cardinals vs Cubs prediction for Saturday’s MLB rivalry game
• The Cubs are slight favorites with a moneyline of -118, while the Cardinals are the underdogs at -102
• Read below for Cardinals vs Cubs prediction, odds, and starting pitchers for August 3, 2024

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The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are set to face off in the final game of their three-game series on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the historic Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The first pitch is slated for 2:20 PM ET, and fans can watch all the action unfold on Bally Sports Midwest. The Cubs come into this game as slight favorites, with a moneyline of -118, while the Cardinals are the underdogs at -102.

Here is our Cardinals vs Cubs prediction for Saturday, along with a breakdown of the MLB odds and starting pitchers.

Cardinals vs Cubs Prediction Saturday

The Cubs have come out strong in this series, winning the first two games, including a notable 6-3 victory on Friday afternoon. Christian Bethancourt and Michael Busch led the Cubs’ offensive charge, each smashing a home run.

On the flip side, the Cardinals had a tough time with runners in scoring position, going a disappointing 0-for-7. The Cubs will aim to capitalize on this momentum and secure a sweep on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals will be eager to avoid the sweep and salvage the final game of the series. They’ve hit a rough stretch, losing six of their last nine games, and will need to find some offensive spark to turn things around.

The pitching matchup pits the Cardinals’ Kyle Gibson (3.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) against the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon (3.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP).

Considering the way the series has gone and the starting pitchers’ stats, the Cubs have the advantage. They’ve got the hot bats, the home-field edge, and the confidence from their consecutive wins. However, never underestimate the Cardinals – they’ve got a lineup that can cause some damage and will be hungry to avoid the sweep.

All things considered, I’m backing the Cubs on the moneyline at -118. They’ve got the momentum, the home crowd support, and a starting pitcher in Taillon who’s been reliable at Wrigley this season. Look for Chicago to complete the sweep in a tight one.

STL-CHI Saturday Pick:

• Cubs ML (-118)

Cardinals vs Cubs Odds August 3

The oddsmakers have listed the Cubs as the favorites in this one, with a moneyline of -118. This suggests a 54.1% probability that they’ll emerge victorious.

The Cardinals, as the underdogs, have a moneyline of -102, which equates to a 49.5% chance of pulling off the upset. The bookies are giving a slight edge to the Cubs, likely based on their performance in the series so far and the home-field advantage.

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The over/under is set at 7.5 runs, with both sides of the bet priced at -110. This indicates that the oddsmakers are expecting a relatively low-scoring game, which speaks to the starting pitchers (more on this below).

However, it’s worth noting that in the last four meetings between these teams, the over has hit every time, with an average combined score of 10.8 runs per game.

Odds as of August 2, 2024, at BetMGM Sportsbook. Claim the BetMGM promo code to bet on Cardinals vs Cubs today.

Cardinals vs Cubs Starting Pitchers

Kyle Gibson will take the mound for the Cardinals. He brings a 7-4 record, 3.97 ERA, and 1.34 WHIP into this start. Gibson has been sharper on the road this season, posting a 5-1 record and 3.13 ERA.

However, he’s had challenges against the Cubs over his career, with a high 5.46 ERA and 1-4 record in 31.1 innings of work.

Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs. He has a 7-6 record, 3.35 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP. Taillon has been tough at Wrigley Field this year, going 5-3 with a solid 2.68 ERA.

He’s faced the Cardinals twice already this season, allowing four runs across 11 innings. However, he’s coming off a difficult outing against the Reds, where he was hit for six runs in just 4.1 innings.

This game could come down to which starting pitcher can step up. If Gibson can put his historical struggles against the Cubs behind him and Taillon can bounce back from his recent stumble, we could be in for a pitcher’s duel

Cardinals vs Cubs Injury Report

The Cardinals will be without RHP Lance Lynn, who was placed on the 15-day IL with right knee inflammation after picking up a win on Tuesday. The team hopes he’ll be back by mid-August.

For the Cubs, catcher Tomas Nido has been out since July 26 with a right knee sprain. He’s on the 10-day IL, and the team hasn’t yet provided a timeline for his return.

While these injuries certainly affect the teams’ depth, they’re not expected to be major factors in the outcome of Saturday’s game, as neither Lynn nor Nido were likely to have major roles in this specific matchup.

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