The Cubs host the Cardinals in the only MLB game today

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 6 years ago

SteemSports Presenter:@scottybuckets

SteemSports Editor:@theprophet0

The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals are the first two teams to get the second half of their MLB season started. The National League Central teams play in the only game on the board today as the rest of the league gets rolling tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm Central Standard Time and can be seen on National Television on ESPN. It will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs are favorites at -155 and the over/under is 9.5. The weather forecast calls for warm temps in the 80’s and the wind is blowing out towards center field.

After a choppy start to the season, the Cubs have caught fire and are 55-38 on the year and in first place in the NL Central. They have a 2.5 game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cardinals are in third at 7.5 games back.

It was a fun couple days for Cubs fans as they got to watch Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber in the Home Run Contest. They also got to see Wilson Contreares hit a homer in his first All-Star appearance.

But now it is time to get back to business. Kyle Hendricks will get the start at pitcher for the Cubs. Hendricks is 6-8 on the year with an ERA of 3.92 and a WHIP of 1.20. His arm is well rested and he should be ready to go deep into the game.

The St. Louis Cardinals enter today’s game with a new manager. Mike Matheny is long gone and Mike Shildt will get his first start as the lead man in the dugout. The move was a bit surprising as the Cardinals are above .500 and still with in striking distance of the Wild Card chase.

Carlos Martinez will head to the mound to try and get their second half started right. Martinez is 6-5 on the year with an ERA of 3.08 and a WHIP of 1.38. It will be imperative to keep the ball down today with the wind blowing out.

This is the first game of a rare 5 game series. There is a double header on Saturday due to a rain out earlier in the year.

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