Service Plays Thursday 7/19/18

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 06:44 AM

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Preview and Predictions 07-19-2018

The Chicago Cubs hope three days off didn't upend the momentum they had established before the All-Star break as they prepare to begin a five-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The Cardinals, on the other hand, hope the second half brings a fresh start.

The Cubs won 12 of their last 15 before the break, going from 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central to a 2 1/2-game division lead. St. Louis won its first-half finale - its first game under interim manager Mike Shildt - but begins the second half at a crossroads. The Cardinals are 48-46 and 7 1/2 games behind the Cubs, and this week's series could go a long way toward determining whether they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. St. Louis has won five of eight meetings this season, but the teams have split two games at Wrigley Field.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (6-5, 3.08 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 3.92)

Martinez had won three straight starts, posting quality starts in all three, before losing to Cincinnati in his last outing of the first half. The 26-year-old Dominican allowed three runs over five innings in suffering his first loss at home since May 8. Martinez is 4-4 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 games (15 starts) against the Cubs, including a no-decision June 16 in which he gave up three runs over five frames.

Hendricks had a bumpy first half as he battled his fastball command, but he also suffered from a lack of run support. The Cubs scored a single run in eight of the 28-year-old's 19 starts. Hendricks is 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 11 starts against the Cardinals, including a win June 16 in St. Louis.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs activated RHP Carl Edwards Jr. from paternity leave on Tuesday and expect to have CF Albert Almora Jr. back Thursday.

2. St. Louis SS Yairo Munoz is 8-for-24 with two homers and seven RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.

3. Chicago RF Jason Heyward (8-for-23) and 2B Javier Baez (7-for-24) are both riding five-game hitting streaks entering the second half.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 08:48 AM

JR ODONNELL

3* Hamilton / Saskatchewan over 51.5

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 08:48 AM

Indian Cowboy

4-unit Play. #7094 (5dimes). The British Open. Take Ian Poulter over Phil Mickelson (-120). (Thursday @ 8:59 am est) (For this to Win, Ian Poulter must finish 1 stroke better than Phil Mickelson).
Ian Poulter has been one of the better players on the PGA Tour this season, currently ranked 34thin the FedEx Cup standings, Poulter has three top ten finishes, two top five finishes, and one win at the Houston Open, tying his best year on tour. Though Poulter is not a big hitter on tour, ranked 165th, he is accurate, ranked 25thin Driving Accuracy, 51stin Greens in Regulations, and 34thin Birdies. In Poulter's 13 starts, he has only missed two cuts, at The Honda Classic and the Valspar Championship. Since then Poulter has a win and two other top ten finishes. Poulter finished T44 at The Masters, T11 at The Players and T25 at the US Open. We like for the Brit to have success at Carnoustie. Poulter finished T14 last year at the Open. For Phil Mickelson, Lefty has had a bit of a resurgence and is currently ranked 8thin the FedEx Cup standings with six top ten finishes including a win at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Of Phil's 17 starts, he has made 15 cuts including four in a row Phil finished T36 at The Masters, missed the cut at The Players, and T48 at the US Open. Though Phil is not incredibly accurate off the tee, ranked 197thin Driving Accuracy and 148thin Greens in Regulation, Phil is 17thin Scoring Average, 13thin Eagles, and 4thin both Sand Saves and Birdies. Phil missed the cut last year at the Open.

4-unit Play. #7030 (5dimes). The British Open. Take Henrik Stenson over Jordan Spieth (-105). (Thursday @ 7:31 am est) (For this to Win, Henrik Stenson must finish 1 stoke better than Jordan Spieth).

5-unit Play. #7040 (5dimes). The British Open. Take Henrik Stenson over Tiger Woods (-115). (Thursday @ 7:31 am est) (For this to Win, Henrik Stenson must finish 1 stoke better than Tiger Woods).
Henrik Stenson has been money nearly all season, just when you think Stenson will have an off week, he challenges for the title. Currently ranked 43rdin the FedEx Cup standings, Stenson has made 9 of 10 cuts this season, only missing the cut at the Valspar Championship. Since missing the cut, Stenson has four top ten finishes and two top five finishes. Stenson's worst finish this season was T26 at the FedEx St Jude with his best finish a T2 at the WGC-HSBC. Stenson ranks #1 in both Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation, 3rdin scoring average and 7thin Sand Saves. Stenson's only stat outside the top 90 on Tour is driving distance ranking 182nd. Playing Carnoustie, a course known for is deep bunkers and nasty weather will play perfectly into Stenson's game.
We like for Stenson to finish above both Spieth and Woods, both who enter as favorites, but not having career years. Spieth currently ranked 40thin the FedEx standings has missed five cuts in 17 starts including the Waste Management, the Valspar, and the US Open. Spieth does have four top ten finishes with two third place finishes including The Masters. Spieth ranks in the middle of the field on Driving Distance at 76th and Driving Accuracy 87th, but is 4thin Greens in Regulation. Spieth is the defending champion, but Carnoustie is a difficult place to defend.
For Tiger Woods, his return to a full slate of events has seen him rack up three top five finishes including a T2 at the Valspar. Woods is ranked 50thin the FedEx Cup and 14thin Scoring Average. Woods continues as one of the long hitters on tour ranking 28thbut is also 176thin Driving Accuracy. Woods is 14thin Scoring this season, but the weather could be a factor for Woods as he looks to inch closer to Jack's record major victories. We feel Woods like of accuracy at a course like Carnoustie will mean trouble for a player still looking to find his old form, when making major changes to his game just have not happened. Henrik Stenson has been consistent all season, whereas Spieth and Woods have been less than.

7-unit Play. #7055 (5dimes). The British Open. Take Justin Thomas over Tiger Woods (-130). (Thursday @ 8:26 pm est) (For this to Win, Justin Thomas must finish 1 stoke better than Tiger Woods).
Our big pick this week is on Justin Thomas and it's our second step out against Tiger Woods. Woods is always dangerous in Majors, though he missed the cut at the US Open and T32 at the Masters. Woods last played the Open in 2015 where he missed the cut after a 76/75 in the first two rounds. For Justin Thomas who has become one of the Top Guns over the last few seasons. Currently ranked 2ndin the FedEx Cup, Thomas has two wins this season, The Honda Classis and The CJ Cup with four other top tens. Thomas has made 15 of 16 cuts this season finishing T17 at The Masters, T11 at The Players, and T25 at the US Open. Thomas is ranked 9thin Driving Distance, 6thin Bridies, 4thin Scoring Average, and 1stin Eagles. Thomas will look to avenge last season's missed cut at The Open. With his current form, we like for Thomas to challenge for the victory.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 09:24 AM

Spartan

3* St. Louis + 135

**dawggy** · 07-19-2018, 02:04 PM

Arthur Ralph

THURS Cubs w/Hendricks -150

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 02:18 PM

The Winners Circle
THURSDAY

MLB BASEBALL
500* Play Saint Louis +140 over Chicago Cubs

CANADIAN FOOTBALL
500* Play Hamilton -10 over Saskatchewan

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 04:19 PM

Sports Nostradamus

MLB
Top Play - 5* Over 9 (-130) Cardinals/Cubs (The Greek)

WNBA
4* Over 176 Washington/Dallas
2* Over 171 Las Vegas/Phoenix
2* New York +7.5

CFL
3* Over 50.5 Saskatchewan/Hamilton

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 04:20 PM

Stephen Nover

2* St.louis +135

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 04:20 PM

Goodfella

3* SASKATCHEWAN/HAMILTON UNDER 51.5

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 04:20 PM

Ben burns

3* GOM

HAMILTON -10.5

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 04:20 PM

Sleepyj

2* St.louis / Chicago Cubs under 9

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 05:07 PM

Worlds Worst Picker

St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs
Peabodys Pick: Over

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 05:07 PM

Game of The Year
500* Cubs over 9

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 07-19-2018, 06:56 PM

Fezzik

2*

Cubs / st.louis under 9

1*

St.louis 1.5

Analysis:
RUNLINE +1.5 1 star -145.

First 5 innings, +.5 -110, 1 star also.

LOVE… the spot for the Cards with the surging Martinez on the mound, AND they fired their Manager this past weekend, we get their best effort here, and it is the Cubs' coming home from vacation, always a bad spot to be in the 1st day back with home distractions.

Service Plays Thursday 7/19/18

Service Plays Thursday 7/19/18

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