MLB picks: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Giants vs. Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
July 22nd, 2021
Two of the greatest rivalries in the National League will be renewed on Thursday night, and we have picks for both games below!
We’ll start with our preview of the series finale between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Then we’ll take a look at the fourth and final game in the most recent series between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chicago Cubs (47-49) at St. Louis Cardinals (48-48), 7:15 p.m. ET
Kwang Hyun Kim should keep on rolling for the Cardinals as he faces the Cubs on Thursday night.
Kim has had a brilliant beginning to July, tallying 19 shutout innings over three starts. That includes six spotless innings against Chicago on July 10. Kim should take this lackluster Cubs lineup (3.57 runs per game last seven tilts) to task once more.
Kwang-hyun Kim, Filthy Sliders. 😷 pic.twitter.com/X8OBurGiQf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 30, 2021
Adbert Alzolay counters for the Cubbies, and while he recorded a quality start against St. Louis on May 22 (two earned runs over seven frames), the season went south on him soon after. Alzolay owns a 6.51 ERA over his last seven outings.
Neither the Cubs’ nor the Cardinals’ bullpen has pitched well in July (5.30 ERA and 6.39 ERA, respectively), but Chicago’s relief corps is likely to do more heavy lifting in this one, and that gives St. Louis the edge.
MLB pick: Cardinals -127
San Francisco Giants (60-35) at Los Angeles Dodgers (59-38), 10:10 p.m. ET
The Dodgers have knocked around Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani in three prior chances this season. The fact that they have staff ace Walker Buehler up against him only strengthens their win case for Thursday night.
DeSclafani sports a woeful 10.92 ERA against L.A. this season. The lowlight was the 11-5 drubbing the Dodgers dealt the Giants on May 23, in which DeSclafani allowed 10 earned runs in only 2 2/3 innings of work. The coup de grace was a third-inning grand slam off the bat of Gavin Lux.
The @Dodgers are pouring it on. 😱 pic.twitter.com/EFCnF3qiXA
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2021
The Dodgers are seventh in home offense this year (5.26 runs per game), so expect them to pick up where they left off against DeSclafani.
Buehler has faced the Giants three times this year, going 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA and 0.864 WHIP. Bettors should be confident that he’ll pass the baton to the L.A. bullpen (ninth by ERA in 2021 at 3.64) relatively unscathed before that unit shuts things down.