Vegas Play of the Day: Cubs at Cardinals

By Jesse Granger

Sunday, July 29, 2018 | 2:37 p.m.

The fifth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun’s sports staff is now underway, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

Chicago Cubs minus-124 at St. Louis Cardinals: $372 to win $300

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking for a series sweep over their National League Central division rivals tonight on ESPN.

I believe the Cubs, led by Kyle Hendricks on the mount, will avoid the three game slide. Hendricks hasn’t played his best lately, losing his last two outings with a combined six earned runs in only ten innings, but if he can get through the first few innings unscathed he will be tough to beat.

Hendricks will need some run support, which is something the Cubs’ batters haven’t provided much of in this series. Chicago has mustered only four runs in the first two games in St. Louis, but I expect that to turn around tonight. Javier Baez, in particular, is due for a few big knocks against the Cardinals. The 25-year-old second baseman has a .352 average with 19 hits, five home runs and 10 runs batted in against St. Louis.

The Cubs are clearly the better side, hence the minus-124 favorite, but I think it’s worth laying the price tonight in primetime.

Keefer (4-1, $11,160), Granger (2-0, $10,555), Grimala (3-2, $10,300), Brewer (2-3, $9,160)