The Dodgers are rolling again, while the Cardinals are coming back to life, heading into the third game of this four-game series at Busch Stadium Saturday night. Miles Mikolas hits the hill for the home team here against Noah Syndergaard for the visitors.
Which way are we going with our free LAD/Stl pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Saturday’s baseball betting market opened this game at right around a pick ‘em, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
Dodgers-Cardinals Betting Preview
St. Louis won the opener of this series Thursday night 16-8, but Los Angeles won Friday night’s game 5-0. The Cardinals won Thursday as +135 underdogs against Julio Urias, while the Dodgers won Friday as -115 favorites with Tony Gonsolin.
With Friday’s victory, Los Angeles is 8-2 over its last ten games. At 29-17 overall, the Dodgers are tied with Atlanta for the best record in the National League.
With Friday’s loss, St. Louis is still 6-2 over its last eight games. At 19-27 overall, the Cardinals are still in last place in the NL Central, but they’re on the move.
Los Angeles leads the season series with St. Louis four games to one.
Saturday’s Pitching Match-Up
Mikolas is only 2/9 on quality starts this season but going good as of late. Last Sunday, he held Boston to one run and four hits through six innings of a 9-1 St. Louis victory. And over his last four starts, he’s held opponents to five runs and 20 hits through 22 1/3 innings, with seven walks against 18 strikeouts.
The Cardinals are 5-4 with Mikolas this season, and that’s about what they should be, based on his performances.
In his most recent outing against Los Angeles, two seasons ago, Mikolas allowed five runs – four earned – and five hits through five frames of a 5-1 St. Louis defeat.
Syndergaard is 2/8 on quality starts this year and 0 for his last four. Monday against Minnesota, he gave up two runs and four hits through only four innings, although the Dodgers won that game 9-8. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed 12 runs and 22 hits through only 14 1/3 innings.
LA is 4-4 with Syndergaard this season, and that’s also about what they should be.
In his most recent start against the Cardinals, three weeks ago at Dodger Stadium, Syndergaard allowed three runs and six hits through 5 1/3 innings of a 6-3 Los Angeles win.
Splits With the Sticks
Los Angeles is batting .243 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .334 team OBP and a .458 team slugging percentage.
St. Louis is slashing .250/.336/.436 against right-handed pitching.
The Bullpens
The Cardinals bullpen owns a 3.76 ERA this season, along with a 1.34 WHIP and a 2.46 K/BB ratio.
The Dodgers pen owns a 4.43 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a 2.70 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
Los Angeles is 12-10 on the road this season and 20-11 against right-handed starters.
St. Louis is 9-15 at home and 13-21 against right-handed starters.
Totals Report
- The Over is 24-21 in Dodgers games this season.
- The Over is 23-22 in Cardinals games.
- The Over is 14-9 at Busch Stadium this season.
