TOM'S MLB GRAND SLAM SUNDAY NIGHT BEST BET
- Handicapper
- Tom Stryker
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals
- Release Date
- 05/31/2026 10:49 AM
- Event Date
- 05/31/2026 07:20 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
St. Louis Cardinals -110
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- #912 ST. LOUIS with Liberatore (-) over Chicago with Wicks at 7:20 PM EST
Off yesterday's 6-1 home loss to the Cubs, look for the Redbirds to bounce back with a solid effort here with the series victory on the line. St. Louis rests in third place in the NL Central, a half-game behind second-place Chicago, and manager Oliver Marmol wants to jump them in the standings with a victory here.
On the bump for the Cards will be southpaw Matthew Liberatore. With five May starts completed, No. 32 was tripped for 14 earned runs and 31 hits in 26.1 innings of work. Matthew struck out 34 and walked 11 on his way to a 2-2 record with a 4.78 ERA. Overall, with 11 starts in the books this year, Liberatore has surrendered 30 earned runs and 67 hits in 56.2 frames. That shakes down to a 2-3 tally with a 4.76 ERA.
Countering for the visitors will be left-hander Jordan Wicks. In his first start for the Cubs back on May 26th, No. 36 was blasted for eight earned runs and nine hits in only 4.1 innings. Jordan fanned five and issued one free pass on his way to an 0-1 record with a stiff 16.62 ERA. In his four-year career, Wicks appeared in 27 games (18 starts) and was pummeled for 63 earned runs and 121 hits in 99.1 frames. That adds up to a 6-7 tally with a 5.71 ERA.
There are several team trends that support this wager. St. Louis has picked up wins in 20 of its last 30 when playing under the lights, seven of its last 12 when facing a left-handed starters, and 58 of its last 109 when playing at home. On the other side of the field, Chicago has fallen in 16 of its last 30 on the road and just eight of its last 16 against NL Central foes.
The Cardinals have the better arm on the bump and that will prove to be the difference in this division matchup. Take St. Louis with Liberatore. Thanks, and best of luck, Tom.