Best Games to Bet On: Cardinals vs Cubs & Nationals vs Dodgers

It’s time for an MLB double-header this Monday evening with a pair of big National League matchups on the way. First up is an NL Central showdown between leaders the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Much later in the night, NL East’s Washington Nationals take to the road against NL West’s Los Angeles Dodgers.

Get plenty more MLB action with our complete previews for the Mariners vs. Tigers and Orioles vs. Rangers.

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St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs (8:05 PM ET)

Line: St. Louis Cardinals (+150) at Chicago Cubs (-170) – view all MLB lines

The Chicago Cubs enter this game with plenty of momentum, having swept NL Central foes the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game set which concluded Sunday. The Cubs now put John Lackey (7-2, 2.66 ERA) on the mound to start off this series. The Cubs have won Lackey’s last four starts. The right-hander also has a solid start against the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this year, pitching seven shutout innings on April 18.

Jaime Garcia (4-6, 3.93) takes the ball for St. Louis on the heels of a 1-4 run in his last five starts. He has allowed 10 earned runs in his last outings, two on the road. It’s going to take a lot for the Cards to get a win, as they are on a five-game losing streak.

Writer’s Prediction

The Cubs (-170) take a hard-fought 6-4 victory.

Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (10:00 PM ET)

Line: Washington Nationals (+165) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-185); total 5.5 – view all MLB lines

It’s a fine pitching matchup when the Washington Nationals roll into town to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 2.90 ERA) goes head-to-head against Clayton Kershaw (10-1, 1.58 ERA) for a blockbuster primetime matchup.

Strasburg has 118 strikeouts, tied for third most in the majors. He’s walked just 24 and allowed 75 hits in 93 innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .220 against him. Kershaw, on the other hand, is making a case for his fourth Cy Young Award in six years. He has a majors-leading 1.58 EERA and 133 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .170 against the Dodgers’ southpaw ace—the lowest such average in the majors.