Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Friday June 2nd, the (24-24) St. Louis Cardinals will be on the road to take on the (25-25) Chicago Cubs.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Cubs 5.3 – Cardinals 3.3 with an over/under of 8.6.

Starting Pitchers:

STL: Lance Lynn (4-3, 2.93) vs CHC: John Lackey (4-5, 5.18)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Cubs 4.74 (10^th) > Cardinals 4.25 (23^rd)

Batting Average: Cardinals .254 (12^th) > Cubs .238 (25^th)

On Base Percentage: Cubs .327 (12^th) > Cardinals .326 (13^th)

Total Bases: Cubs 707 (14^th) > Cardinals 678 (24^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Cardinals 29 (9^th) > Cubs 15 (26^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Cardinals 3.72 (6^th) > Cubs 4.06 (10^th)

Batting Average Against: Cardinals .244 (11^th) > Cubs .246 (13^th)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Cardinals 1.27 (9^th) > Cubs 1.33 (15^th)

Strikeouts: Cubs 457 (7^th) > Cardinals 413 (16^th)

Saves: Cardinals 16 (5^th) > Cubs 12 (17^th)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Cubs 37 (tied for 26^th) > Cardinals 37 (tied for 26^th)

Summary:

The Cubs enter the game ranked 10^th in runs per game (4.74) and 10^th in team earned run average (4.06).  The Cardinals rank 23^rd in runs per game (4.25) and 6^th in team ERA (3.72).  Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (4-3, 2.93) is off to a nice start this year after missing all of last season with injury.  Lynn has fared well against Cubs hitters holding them to a combined .225 average against.  Anthony Rizzo is the one Cub who has had great success versus Lynn hitting .344 with two homers in 32 at-bats.  Cubs starter John Lackey (4-5, 5.18) has struggled this season and has allowed five runs in each of his last two starts.  The Cardinals are batting a combined .256 in 133 at-bats against Lackey.  These two teams have split the season series (3-3) so far with St. Louis outscoring Chicago 21-17 in those six games.  The Cubs are (4-6) in their last ten games while the Cardinals are (3-7).  Chicago is (14-11) at home this season whereas St. Louis is (12-10) on the road.  Neither team is playing well right now but I like the Cardinals in this one because they have the better starting pitcher in this match-up.

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