Cardinals vs. Cubs Game 1 Prediction and Odds for Tuesday, August 23 (Cards Keep on Rolling)

The St. Louis Cardinals can’t be stopped right now!

After entering the second half of the season in second place in the NL Central, St. Louis has gone on a crazy run to get to first place in the division, and the team’s recent eight-game winning streak has pushed the division lead to five games over the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Albert Pujols was the hero on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, hitting his 693rd homer of his career in a 1-0 win. 

He’s been absolutely electric for St. Louis since the All-Star break, posting the best slugging percentage in a 10-game stretch of his career.

Another Cardinals veteran, Adam Wainwright (9-8, 3.11 ERA), gets the ball in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader against Cubs prospect Javier Assad, who is making his MLB debut. 

Here are the odds from DraftKings for Game 1: 

Cardinals vs. Cubs Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line:

• Cardinals -1.5 (-110)
• Cubs +1.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Cardinals: -180
• Cubs: +155

Total: 

• 8.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Cardinals vs. Cubs Prediction and Pick

This is a tough spot for Assad to make his MLB debut in, as the Cardinals are No. 1 in OPS and No. 1 in runs scored in MLB over the last 15 days. 

Assad has been solid in AAA this season, striking out 37 batters in 36.2 innings and compiling a 2.95 ERA in eight games (seven starts). Is that enough to outduel Wainwright? 

I’m not so sure. 

Wainwright has been dominant in his last two starts against the Brewers and Colorado Rockies, allowing just six hits and one earned run over 16 innings of work. He also tossed seven innings of shutout ball against the Cubs earlier this month. 

I don’t want to discount the Cubs offense, which is sixth in OPS over the last 15 days, but I can’t trust a rookie starter against the hottest team in baseball. 

Lean: Cardinals -1.5 (-110)

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.