For a team so many people cheer for \u2013 including fans of other teams \u2013 it\u2019s a shame to see the Chicago Cubs so irrelevant this season, especially when their division is so ripe for picking. <\/p>\n
Sunday Night Baseball Betting \u2013 Cubs vs. Cardinals Preview & Pick<\/strong> Chicago Cubs (42-62 through July 27)<\/strong> It\u2019s easy to see what went wrong above all else in 2011: pitching.<\/p>\n We need look no further than Ryan Dempster, who will start for the Cubbies on Sunday Night Baseball<\/em> (as I assume his trade value is too low to net him a new address before the deadline). After three straight seasons of 11-plus wins, 170-plus strikeouts and an ERA of 3.85 or lower, Dempster has been a massive disappointment in 2011. He pitched pretty well in June and July, sporting ERAs of 3.08 and 3.13, but he\u2019s bookended those months with a 9.58 mark in April and 4.91 mark this month.<\/p>\n St. Louis Cardinals (55-49 through July 28)<\/strong> The Cards pounded Dempster for six runs and eight hits, including two homers, over five innings on June 3. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n The only problem is that the guy who did the most damage that day, Lance Berkman, is on the shelf with a shoulder injury. He tried to come back quickly and tweaked it early this week, so I suspect Tony La Russa might err on the side of caution this time and give Berkman the weekend off.<\/p>\n Innings eater Jake Westbrook hopes to continue his mini hot streak on Sunday. He\u2019s allowed two earned runs or fewer in three consecutive outings. Still, he\u2019s a wild card. Westbrook has a 6.33 ERA at home this season. The Cubs also tagged him for five runs and chased him after 2.1 innings the one time he faced them this year.<\/p>\n Under is 8-3 in CHC last 11 overall. Westbrook\u2019s ugly home split is more extreme and alarming to me than Dempster\u2019s lackluster numbers. The wind may also be out of St. Louis\u2019 sails because of Berkman\u2019s injury and because they shipped off blue-chipper Colby Rasmus Wednesday in a trade many fans are heavily criticizing. <\/p>\n Maybe the Cubbies can pull a minor upset.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Sunday, July 31, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>ESPN
\nChicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Betting Lines from Bodog.com<\/strong>
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\nRyan Dempster (7-8, 4.98)<\/p>\n
\nJake Westbrook (9-4, 4.86)<\/p>\nMLB Trends:<\/h3>\n
\nUnder is 8-3 in CHC last 11 on grass.
\nOver is 7-3 in CHC last 10 road games.
\nSTL are 6-2 in their last 8 home games.
\nSTL are 7-3 in their last 10 overall.
\nSTL are 7-3 in their last 10 games on grass.
\nOver is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.<\/p>\nFree MLB pick:<\/h3>\n