The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals today in NLDS Game 4. The game is scheduled for a 4:37 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on TBS. Currently the odds for the game have the Cubs favored to close out the series with a win.
St. Louis won 100 games during the regular season, but they find themselves on the verge of elimination this afternoon. The Cubs have used great pitching and the long ball to build the 2-1 lead and Chicago will draw on the fans to help them win today with another packed Wrigley Field.
Joe Maddon's team was very good in home games this season, the Cardinals were so-so on the road, finishing nine games over the .500 mark. Chicago gives the baseball to Jason Hammel, who had a nice start in his final performance of the season by throwing five shutout innings against Cincinnati.
Hammel finished 3-3 in home starts this year, posting a 3.99 ERA in better than 85 innings of work. Current Cardinals own an average of .323 against him in 127 at bats, Jhonny Peralta had two home runs and nine hits while Jason Heyward has nine hits in 18 at bats. The Cardinals need to grind out at bats tonight and find a way to score runs, falling behind is not a good spot for them.
John Lackey gets the start for St. Louis, he threw 7 1/3 shutout innings in Game 1 of this series, walking just one. Lackey has been solid all season, but did have better numbers at home. He's going to need another solid start to give St. Louis a chance tonight.
Over the span of 121 at bats, current Cubs are hitting .281 against him.
The Cardinals in the post-season at plus money looks very enticing. Chicago is on the verge of making history once again, the first time in better than a decade. Cubs fans have waited a long time for this, obviously, but St. Louis is going to put up a fight. Chicago definitely doesn't want to go back to St. Louis for a deciding fifth game.
Free Pick: OVER 8 runs scored
$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
Stay on top of the latest odds and line moves for the NFL Season with our real-time odds from Las Vegas and offshore!