Free MLB Picks Today: Chicago White Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals 7/7/23

The Chicago White Sox (37-52) host the St. Louis Cardinals (36-51) at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday to open a three-game Interleague series.

The Cardinals are in the midst of a seven-game road trip. They won only one out of four in their last series against the Marlins, taking the finale 3-0 on Thursday at loanDepot Park.

Nolan Arenado was 1 for 3 with a solo home run. Nolan Gorman added two doubles, one run, and one RBI. The White Sox are in the midst of a six-game homestand.

They were just swept in three games against the Blue Jays, ending the series by dropping both games of a doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday.

They followed up a 6-2 loss in the opener with a 5-4 defeat in the finale. Seby Zavala went 2 for 3 with a double and one run in the second leg.

The teams are meeting for the first time since May 26, 2021, when the Cardinals avoided a three-game series sweep with a 4-0 win at Guaranteed Rate Field.

ON THE MOUND

Jordan Montgomery (6-7, 3.28 ERA) is in line to start for St. Louis. The left-hander allowed one run (zero earned) over 6.2 innings in his last start, a 5-1 road win over the Yankees on Sunday.

He earned the win, giving up two hits while striking out six and walking three. Montgomery made one start against the White Sox in 2022, a 3-2 road loss for the Yankees on May 14. He surrendered two runs on six hits over 4.1 innings, striking out four and walking three.

For Chicago, right-hander Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.10 ERA) will toe the rubber. In his last start on Saturday, Cease took a no-decision on the road against the Athletics. He threw 5.1 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, striking out five and walking three in the 7-6 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The St. Louis offense is averaging 4.6 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .253/.328/.426. Paul Goldschmidt leads the team in OPS at .851.

The first baseman is slashing .284/.370/.482 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 52 runs over 84 games. Against righties like Cease this season, the Cards have a .759 OPS.

Goldschmidt also is the team’s best hitter against right-handers with a .902 OPS in 244 at-bats. Chicago is slashing .238/.297/.393 for the season and averaging 4.2 runs per game. Luis Robert Jr. leads the team with a .902 OPS.

The center fielder has 25 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 60 runs scored with a slash line of .272/.333/.569. The Sox have a .733 OPS against Southpaws in 2023. With a 1.103 OPS over 70 at-bats, Robert Jr. also has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

St. Louis is 19-26 away from Busch Stadium in 2023, scoring 4.1 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. Chicago has lost three in a row in front of their home fans.

The Sox are 20-23 at home this season, averaging 4.0 runs per game while surrendering 4.9. In the last 10 games at Guaranteed Rate Field between the teams, St. Louis is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 4.6-3.7.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Cardinals are fifth in the NL Central, 12 games behind the division-leading Reds. The White Sox are fourth in the AL Central, eight games behind the Twins.