Passing this one. Cubs are a massive board gang bang and basically no one who is not a Cards fan "wants" them to win. There is no way that anyone is getting a fair price on the Cubs at this juncture given their level of excitement and media coverage. Lester has not been good all year and they have gone to town on him with the running game, which it somehow took MLB teams nearly a decade to figure out. Cards 3-1 against him and have had a lot of good at bats. I don't really buy this Lester is so great in big games nonsense, the last time he pitched a big game was in the AL WC and he got straight shelled. On flip side, I know Lackey a gamer, but until Cards returning injured players demonstrate that they are in some sort of form, can't get too excited about them.
As for the total, I do not like this under. Cards have put out an offensively stacked lineup and roster. They have Wong batting 8th. When Wong is your 8th hitter, you are in good shape. It's pretty balanced up and down but it depends on what sort of form we see. With the layoff and way they ended the season, I think the layoff actually helps them to get them healthier and a chance to breathe. Cubs are feast or famine at plate but searing hot. Would not surprise me at all if either of these teams went over this number themselves. With that being said, probably goes into extra innings tied 1-1.
I can't figure this series out and feel like I have much better reads on the other matchups. If it is even possible, both sides seem square as hell. My brain says Cubs easy, but that is a big red flag, and I just keep circling back to that trip St. Louis took to Buccos where they showed for the 1000th time that they find ways. They also found a way in Chicago in that pivotal 3rd game where Molina hurt his finger.
