Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd faces the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Chicago Cubs (66-48) face the St. Louis Cardinals (58-58) in the opener of a 3-game set Friday. First pitch from Busch Stadium in St. Louis is set for 8:15 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Cubs vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 4-3

The Cubs dropped 2 of 3 at home to the Cincinnati Reds, avoiding a sweep with a 6-1 victory Wednesday as -123 favorites as the Under (7.5) hit in all 3 games. DH Seiya Suzuki (2-for-2, 2 RBIs) hit his career-best 27th homer. The Cubs are 11-9 over the last 20 games and have fallen 4 games behind the surging Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago has a 3½-game lead in the Wild Card race.

The Cards took 2 of 3 from the LA Dodgers in Los Angeles, taking the rubber match 5-3 Wednesday as +184 underdogs with the Under (9.5) cashing for the second time in the series. RF Jordan Walker went 3-for-5 with an RBI -- a go-ahead single in the top of the eighth -- as he looks to be turning a lost season around. The Birds sit 5½ games out of a Wild Card spot. The rhetoric coming from them, though, is they're still trying to win despite selling at the trade deadline.

Cubs at Cardinals projected starters

LHP Matthew Boyd vs. RHP Michael McGreevy

Boyd (11-4, 2.34 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 over 130 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K in 4-3 home loss against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday (left with 3-0 lead; O's scored 4 in eighth)
  • Career vs. Cardinals: 3-1, 1.29 ERA (28 IP, 4 ER), 0.75 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 (35 K) in 5 starts
  • 2025 vs. Cardinals: 2-0, 0.00 (11 IP, 0 ER), 6 H, 1 BB, 12 K

McGreevy (3-2, 5.08 ERA) makes his seventh start (eighth appearance). He has a 1.23 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 5.3 K/9 through 39 innings.

  • Last start: Win, 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K in a 8-5 win over the San Diego Padres
  • Career vs. Cubs: 1 start (June 24, 2025), no-decision, 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K in 8-7 home victory

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

Cubs at Cardinals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:52 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Cubs -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Cardinals +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+115) | Cardinals +1.5 (-140)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -102 | U: -118)

Cubs at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 5, Cardinals 2

Moneyline

Boyd is what flips the needle here. He has been so good against St. Louis, which totes a lefty-heavy lineup.

Give me CUBS (-150).

Run line/Against the spread

Suzuki is hitting .276 with 3 homers and 7 RBIs in 29 at-bats against the Cards this year. He's also 2-for-3 with a homer against McGreevy. Give me SEIYA SUZUKI OVER 1.5 H + R + RBI (-150).

Over/Under

It's slated to be 90 degrees with an 11-mph gust blowing out toward left field. The Over is 5-2 in this series this year. However, with the success Boyd has had against the Cards, I don't think we reach this number.

Take UNDER 8.5 (-118).

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @rdodsonsports on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Ryan Dodson, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect