MLB Betting: Cubs, Cards Clash For Top Spot

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals begin a three-game series in St. Louis on Tuesday night tied atop the National League Central with identical 56-39 records.

The Cubs have been coming up short in the win department lately, with a 2-5 mark in their last seven. On the road, they’ve been just as bad at 4-9 in their last 13. The Cardinals had won six straight before dropping their last two games. In their last 12, they’re 9-3.

In nine matchups between Chicago and St. Louis this season, the Cubs are 6-3. However, in St. Louis, the Cardinals have won all three games this season and they’re 6-1 in their last seven vs Chicago.

Tuesday’s pitching matchup is Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.54) for Chicago and Adam Wainwright (7-7, 4.63) for St. Louis.

Darvish faced St. Louis back on May 31 and posted a no-decision despite allowing only one run on three hits in six innings. Chicago lost 2-1 as a +122 underdog at Bovada Sportsbook.

Wainwright took the loss against the Cubs on June 9 after giving up three runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. St. Louis lost 5-1 as a +160 underdog. In three starts against the Cubs this season, Wainwright is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA.

Nationals try to make up ground on Braves

Also on tap Tuesday night, the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves continue a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Entering the series, Atlanta was 4-7 in its last 11 games. Washington was also scuffling at 1-3 in its last four, but the Nationals were 6-3 in their last nine at home.

In nine games between Atlanta and Washington this season, the Nationals were 5-4.

Tuesday night’s pitching matchup is expected to be Julio Teheran (5-7, 3.42) for Atlanta and Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.41) for Washington.

Teheran allowed only one run on four hits in 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Washington on July 19. Atlanta won 4-3 as a +104 underdog.

Scherzer surprisingly hasn’t faced Atlanta this season. In 22 career starts against the Braves, Scherzer is 9-7 with a 3.76 ERA.

Verlander hasn’t fared well in Cleveland

Tuesday’s top pitching matchup takes place in Cleveland where Shane Bieber (10-3, 3.44) leads the Cleveland Indians against Justin Verlander (13-4, 2.86) and the Houston Astros.

Bieber is coming off a complete-game one-hit shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays. In April, he faced Houston and allowed three runs on three hits in six innings in a no-decision. Cleveland lost 4-3 as a +144 underdog.

Verlander faced Cleveland many times while playing in Detroit. In 52 career starts against the Indians, he is 20-24 with a 4.71 ERA. Verlander has had a difficult time pitching in Cleveland in his career, with a 9-16 record and a 5.56 ERA in 28 games.