Wednesday MLB preview: Mets at White Sox, Cubs at Cardinals

New York Mets (51-55) at Chicago White Sox (46-58), 8:10 p.m. ET

Jacob deGrom (6-7, 2.86 ERA) (NYM) -165 / -1.5 runs (-110) / Over 8 runs (-115) Lucas Giolito (11-5, 3.52 ERA) (CHW) +150 / +1.5 runs (-110) / Under 8 runs (-105)

MLB free play: Mets -0.5 runs first five innings (-120)

The Mets, who have won six of their last seven, should build on their momentum with 2018 NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom on the hill against the slumping Lucas Giolito and a White Sox team that has lost six of its last seven.

In four starts this month, deGrom has a 1.04 ERA and has gone at least seven innings three times. There is perhaps no more clutch pitcher in the majors than deGrom, who owns a .136 opponent batting average with runners in scoring position and two outs. Chicago's lineup is 26th in batting average in those situations (.212).

Giolito owns a 7.06 ERA in July, which has raised his season ERA by 0.80. He fares worse at home than on the road. He has a 4.47 ERA at Guaranteed Rate Field in 10 starts this year but a 2.76 ERA everywhere else (also 10 starts).

Bettors will want to avoid New York's dreadful bullpen, which has blown the most saves in baseball this season. Count on the Mets to be ahead after five frames, at least.

Chicago Cubs (56-50) at St. Louis Cardinals (57-49), 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Kyle Hendricks (7-8, 3.26 ERA) (CHC) -110 / -1.5 runs (+130) / Over 8.5 runs (-105) Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.19 ERA) (STL) EVEN / +1.5 runs (-155) / Under 8.5 runs (-115)

MLB free play: Under

Bettors who cashed on the Under in Tuesday night's Cubs-Cardinals affair should go right back to the well Wednesday night.

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks has mediocre road splits in 2019 but held the Brewers to two hits in five innings at Miller Park on July 26. In two starts against St. Louis this season (16 innings), Hendricks has surrendered just one earned run. Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, third baseman Matt Carpenter and shortstop Paul DeJong are a combined 15-for-86 (.174) all-time against Hendricks.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas has been effective this season at Busch Stadium, where he has a 2.17 ERA in 10 starts. Mikolas owns a 1.95 ERA in his last six efforts against the Cubs.