Editorial by: Graydon Fox

Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

Top 5 Winners:

1. Jr Freidhof (400 pts)
2. Wendy Ferguson Benson (400 pts)
3. Thomas Perry (400 pts)
4. Jorden Watson (400 pts)
5. Rich Robinson (400 pts)

 

Overview:

On Sunday, May 6^th, the (16-12) Chicago Cubs will be on the road to take on the (17-12) St. Louis Cardinals.

 

Starting Pitchers:

CHC: Jon Lester (2-1, 2.73) vs STL: Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.62)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Cubs 4.86 (6^th) > Cardinals 4.55 (16^th)

Batting Average: Cubs .244 (13^th) > Cardinals .235 (25^th)

On Base Percentage: Cubs .324 (11^th) > Cardinals .317 (17^th)

Total Bases: Cubs 395 (21^st) > Cardinals 383 (25^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Cardinals 15 (16^th) > Cubs 6 (30^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Cardinals 3.32 (4^th) > Cubs 3.48 (8^th)

Batting Average Against: Cubs .227 (7^th) > Cardinals .240 (13^th)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Cardinals 1.31 (15^th) > Cubs 1.32 (16^th)

Strikeouts: Cardinals 245 (20^th) > Cubs 244 (21^st)

Saves: Cubs 8 (8^th) = Cardinals 8 (8^th)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Cardinals 18 (18^th) > Cubs 24 (26^th)

Summary:

The Cubs enter the game 6^th in the league in runs per game (4.86) and 8^th in team earned run average (3.48).  The Cubs are (7-3) in their last ten games and (8-6) on the road this season.  The Cubs have owned Cardinals starter Micheal Wacha (4-1, 3.62) batting a combined .315 in 149 at-bats.  It’s worth noting that Wacha has pitched much better at home (3-0, 3.38) this season.  Both Anthony Rizzo (.474, 3 HR) and Wilson Contreras (.400 2 HR) have had great success against Wacha.  The Cubs have been getting consistent production all throughout the lineup and Javier Baez (.279, 7 HR, 26 RBI) is quickly becoming the superstar many thought he was destined to be.  Brandon Morrow (0.00 ERA, .900 WHIP, 7 saves) is proving to be one of the best offseason acquisitions.

St. Louis ranks 16^th in runs per game (4.55) and 4^th in team ERA (3.32).  The Cardinals are (6-4) in their last ten games and they are (9-5) at home this season. Cubs starter Jon Lester (2-1, 2.73) has pitched very well against St. Louis holding them to a combined .225 average in 173 at-bats.  One of the Cardinals best hitters Matt Carpenter has been brutal against Lester posting .135 average and 11 strikeouts in 37 at-bats.  Yadier Molina (.324) and Jedd Gyorko (.350) are the only Cardinals players that have hit well against Lester.  The Cardinals bullpen has been phenomenal this year so they’ll definitely have a chance if Wacha can give them a quality start.

Bottom Line:

These teams have split the season series (1-1) thus far.  The Cubs offense has hit Michael Wacha hard in the past so I expect them to score early and often.  Jon Lester has posted great numbers against the Cardinals in the past so he should be able to pitch deep into the game.  Brandon Morrow has been dynamite this season and will lock down the save.

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