The Chicago Cubs (55-38) will try to increase their lead atop the National League Central against the St. Louis Cardinals (48-46) on Thursday when they kick off the second half of the season as solid home favorites at the sportsbooks. The Cubs lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 2.5 games and the Cardinals by 7.5 for first place in the division thanks to a three-game winning streak.
MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -150 favorites (wager $150 to win $100), according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.