Ricky Dimon
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We have a 15-game slate in Major League Baseball on Wednesday, which includes a double-header between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. There are six afternoon games on offer as a whole host of teams wrap up series and prepare to begin new ones on Thursday. However, the night-time lineup is headline by a National League Central showdown between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals on ESPN. Cubs-Cardinals is getting the same game parlay treatment it deserves, and be sure to also check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Chicago Cubs ML (+112)
Nolan Arenado to record 2+ hits (+190)
Kyle Hendricks Under 4.5 strikeouts (-166)
Parlay odds: +1004
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. But that isn’t the plan here, which is good news for bettors who want long odds. Plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay, and that is the case here with bets on Nolan Arenado to get multiple hits and Kyle Hendricks to record no more than four strikeouts in addition to a Chicago victory. Let’s break down each of the three legs one by one.
Chicago Cubs ML (+112)
The Cardinals had won three games in a row and they were poised to make it four straight until the ninth inning on Tuesday. St Louis’ bullpen completely broke down, and what started as a 6-1 lead quickly turned into a 7-6 loss in the span just one inning. It was a crushing loss for the Cardinals, and whatever momentum they had after taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants is now gone. Adding insult to injury, the Birds now have to face Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks on Wednesday. The Cubs have won 11 of Hendricks’ 14 starts since May 1 and the veteran right-hander has historically been stellar against the Cardinals. In 23 career starts in this head-to-head matchup, Hendricks is 12-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Additionally, he is very comfortable at Busch Stadium (5-1 with a 2.73 ERA in nine career starts). The veteran is three for three in delivering quality starts against St. Louis in 2021.
Nolan Arenado to record 2+ hits (+190)
If there is one Cardinals hitter who can do some damage against Hendricks on Wednesday, it’s Arenado. The star third baseman is a decent 9-for-33 (.273) lifetime against the righty and he has blasted three home runs. Although Arenado has not been on fire of late, he has two multi-hit performances in July and three dating back to June 29. The 30-year-old should be confident against Hendricks, so getting at least two base knocks is by no means out of the question.
Kyle Hendricks Under 4.5 strikeouts (-166)
Hendricks is not a strikeout pitcher, so he can still have plenty of success against the Cardinals—again—and lead the Cubs to a victory even if he is not mowing down opposing batters left and right. The 31-year-old has struck out only 84 hitters in 111.0 innings of work this season, including just 10 through 18.1 innings in July. Hendricks has pitched 19.0 innings versus St. Louis in 2021 and has compiled only seven strikeouts. Needless to say, it’s hard to see him reaching the five-strikeout mark on Wednesday.
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