Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday July 29 2026
The Chicago Cubs try to secure at least a series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium, and this MLB predictions preview looks at why Matthew Boyd's remarkable run of form makes the Cubs an appealing play at plus-money on the run line against a Cardinals club riding a three-game losing streak.
TLDR: Quick Picks and Prediction
- Moneyline: Chicago -107
- Run Line: Chicago -1.5 (+153)
- Total: Under 8 (-110)
- Final Score Prediction: Cubs 5, Cardinals 2
Odds and Line Movement
Current Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | -107 | -1.5 (+153) | Over 8 (-110) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | -112 | +1.5 (-186) | Under 8 (-110) |
Line Movement - Moneyline
| Date | Time | Chi. Cubs | St. Louis | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29 | 09:56:12AM | -107 | -112 | CHC 60%, 78% |
| 07/29 | 09:54:12AM | -111 | -108 | CHC 60%, 78% |
| 07/29 | 06:53:14AM | -120 | +100 | STL 52%, 20% |
| 07/29 | 06:53:14AM | -120 | +100 | STL 64%, 20% |
| 07/29 | 02:22:17AM | -127 | +105 | STL 64%, 20% |
| 07/29 | 02:22:17AM | -127 | +105 | STL 64%, 25% |
| 07/29 | 02:22:17AM | -127 | +105 | STL 65%, 22% |
| 07/29 | 02:22:17AM | -127 | +105 | STL 65%, 23% |
| 07/28 | 11:29:46PM | -120 | +100 | STL 80%, 8% |
| 07/28 | 07:32:40PM | -120 | +100 | CHC 88%, 89% |
| 07/28 | 07:32:40PM | -120 | +100 | CHC 94%, 89% |
| 07/28 | 07:16:49PM | -120 | +100 | - |
| 07/28 | 06:26:06PM | -120 | +100 | - |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Time | Over | Under | Public ($, #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/28 | 07:32:40PM | 8 -110 | 8u -110 | - |
| 07/28 | 07:16:49PM | 8 -108 | 8u -112 | - |
| 07/28 | 07:16:10PM | 8 -102 | 8u -118 | - |
| 07/28 | 06:30:09PM | 7œ -109 | 7œu -110 | - |
| 07/28 | 06:26:06PM | 7œ -108 | 7œu -112 | - |
Cubs vs Cardinals Key Matchups and Game Preview
Cubs Turn to Boyd
Chicago will start Matthew Boyd, who is 6-1 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 59 innings. The left-hander has allowed 56 hits and six home runs while recording 55 strikeouts against only 17 walks, and he has not lost in his past 10 starts while winning his last six decisions.
Cardinals Counter With May
St. Louis counters with Dustin May, who is 5-7 with a 4.59 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 104 innings. May has collected 103 strikeouts against 33 walks and has surrendered only seven home runs, but his 104 hits allowed indicate that Chicago should have opportunities to build innings through consistent contact.
Chicago's Offensive Advantage
The Cubs possess the stronger offensive profile, batting .250 with a .341 on-base percentage and .417 slugging percentage while scoring 558 runs. St. Louis is hitting .239 with a .315 OBP and .380 slugging mark, producing 87 fewer runs and 21 fewer home runs than Chicago.
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Crow-Armstrong Leads the Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 23 homers while batting .285 with a .384 OBP and .535 slugging percentage, and Dansby Swanson has driven in 61 runs. Jordan Walker has been St. Louis' primary threat, batting .283 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs, while Alec Burleson is also hitting .285.
Bullpen and Roster Absences
The Cubs' bullpen depth is affected by the absences of Ethan Roberts, Hoby Milner and Riley Martin, while Matt Shaw and Tyler Austin remain unavailable to the lineup. St. Louis is missing late-inning reliever JoJo Romero following an emergency appendectomy, while Ramon Urias and Max Rajcic remain on the 60-day injured list.
CHC and STL Betting Trends
Chicago has controlled the first two games of this four-game set, winning 7-3 on Monday and 10-2 on Tuesday, while St. Louis enters on a three-game losing streak. The Cubs are slight -107 moneyline favorites and offer an attractive +153 price on the -1.5 run line, while the Cardinals are -112 at home and -186 with 1.5 runs. The total is set at eight, with both sides carrying -110 odds.
CHC and STL Injuries and Things to Know
- Ethan Roberts, Hoby Milner and Riley Martin (Chicago bullpen) remain unavailable.
- Matt Shaw and Tyler Austin (Chicago) are also unavailable to the lineup.
- JoJo Romero (St. Louis) is out following an emergency appendectomy.
- Ramon Urias and Max Rajcic (St. Louis) remain on the 60-day injured list.
Cubs vs Cardinals Side and Over/Under Picks
Cubs Side Pick
Take Chicago -1.5 at +153 on the run line. Chicago has the more productive lineup, the better starting pitcher and strong momentum after scoring 17 runs across the first two games of this series.
Total Pick
Take the under 8. May may limit the long ball, and Boyd's command profile combined with a shorthanded St. Louis bullpen points toward a controlled final score.
Final Score Prediction
Cubs Take the Series
May may limit the long ball, but the Cubs should generate enough baserunners to gradually pull away and secure at least a series victory over St. Louis.
- Final Score: Cubs 5, Cardinals 2
- Moneyline: Chicago -107
- Total: Under 8
How to Wager on Cubs vs Cardinals
Bettors looking to expand this Cubs-Cardinals matchup into a bigger card have several resources worth checking out. For model-driven projections across today's full MLB slate, visit the AI picks hub. Those wanting additional angles on the moneyline, run line, and total in this matchup can also review the Dimers review and the Oddible review before placing a wager on Wednesday's matchup.
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