MLB Playoffs Action and Online Odds: Cubs vs Cardinals. The 1st game of the 2015 MLN National League Division Series is at 6:30 PM ET on Friday the 9th of October between the Cubs of Chicago playing at the Cardinals of St. Louis with the game being played at the Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri and seen on TBS.
The opening odds at SBG Global.com online have the Cardinals with listed pitcher J. Lackey at -108 on the Money Line with the Over/under at 6 ½ -110 and on the Run Line -1 ½ +200, with the Cubs listed pitcher J. Lester and -102 on the Money Line and on the Run Line +1 ½ -240.
The NLDS is ready to go, as the Cubs on Wednesday shut out the Pirates of Pittsburgh 4-0, and made their 1st playoffs since back in the 2003 season. Now the Cub must get ready to face the strong Cardinals of St. Louis who have been in the playoffs some 12 times in the last 16 years.
The 1st game of the Series is on Friday the 9th of October a 6:45 PM ET in St. Louis. The 2nd game is on Saturday the 10th of October at 5:35 PM ET in St. Louis. The 3rd game is on Monday the 12th of October in Chicago at TBA. The 4th game if needed on Tuesday the 13th in Chicago at TBA. The 5th and final game if needed on Thursday the 15th of October in St. Louis and Time to Be Announced.
If you’re a fan of the Cubs of Chicago your pitcher J. Arrieta who is known as the best starter on the Cubs roster and rotation pitched a 4 hit game in the shutout of the Pirates 4-0 in the NL Wildcard game this past Wednesday. Arrieta the best Cubs pitcher had 11 strikeouts throughout the nine tough innings to beat Pittsburgh in the wild card game.
The pitching of Arrieta was supplemented by a couple of player who usually don’t star in their games, but lead-off hitter D. Fowler hit a solo HR and brought in 3 runs in the game as he had 3 hits in 4 at bats. Then rookie K. Schwarber hit a 2 run homer of Pirates pitcher G. Cole.
But now coming into this 5 game series the going gets tough for the Cubs pitching rotation, as the Cubs face the teams with 100 wins in the Cardinals, and hot handed pitcher Arrieta will not be able to pitch in that 1st game of the Series, but they will then use veteran J. Lester who has a record of 11 and 12 with an ERA of 3.34 as the most likely starter going to the mound in Game 1 of this MLB Playoffs Series.
Offensively the Cubs expect their 1st baseman A. Rizzo to be at his best against the Cardinals as the star led his team in almost all offensive categories this regular season as in his 65 at bats, he had 65 at bats with 4 HR’s and 16 RBI’s while drawing some 9 walks this season. In their last 9 games playing the Cardinals have 6 wins and 3 losses.
Then the fans of the Cardinals of St. Louis are used to seeing their team in these playoffs, as the team seems always ready and seeking a World Series Trophy. This year’s 2015 team is as good as any team that had in the last few years
An important MLB Playoffs factor for the success of the Cardinals this season has been the performance of pitcher J. Lackey who to date his record is 13 and 10 with an ERA of 2.77 and has had his 1st sub .300 ERA in his career of some 13 seasons. His performances this season at Busch Stadium has been great as he is 9 and 4 with an ERA in 17 starts of 1.94. In the Cubs at bats against Lackey this season they only managed 1 home run in the 121 at bats against him and had just 6 RBI’s for that same at bat period.
The Cardinals will be looking for their OF J. Heyward and M. Holliday to get key hits in the Friday game, as the 2 have had the best averages against the Cub starter Lester for Fridays game. Against Lester with 24 at bats, Heyward has managed 1 HR, 4 doubles, with a total of 10 hits. Then Holliday against Lester had 5 hits in 9 at bats with 1 double and 3 RBI’s. The Cardinals in their ultimate 8 games they played at this Busch Stadium, they are with 6 wins and 2 losses.
The prediction for this 1st game between the Cubs and the Cardinals will see a final score with Cardinals 5 and the Cubs 2!