The Los Angeles Dodgers (86-51) open a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals (69-66) Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. Let’s analyze the lines around the Dodgers vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Dodgers RHP Max Scherzer (12-4, 2.40 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a league-low 0.86 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 12.1 K/9 through 146 IP.
- Scherzer’s first win of the year came April 21 against the Cardinals. He pitched 6 scoreless innings and struck out 9 in a 1-0 Washington Nationals victory.
- The Dodgers have won all six of Scherzer’s starts since he was traded from Washington; Scherzer has a 1.29 ERA across that span.
Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (0-1, 4.41 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has allowed 18 H and 5 BB with 14 K through 16 1/3 IP.
- Mikolas has not pitched more than 5 innings in any start this season and has only completed the full 5 innings once.
- He has allowed 3 or more earned runs in each of his last two starts.
Dodgers at Cardinals odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:24 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Dodgers -220 (bet $220 to win $100) | Cardinals +175 (bet $100 to win $175)
- Against the spread/ATS: Dodgers -1.5 (-125) | Cardinals +1.5 (+102)
- Over/Under: 7.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Prediction
Dodgers 5, Cardinals 2
Money line (ML)
The Dodgers are coming off losing two of three games to the San Francisco Giants but otherwise have been rolling. They won four of their last six, eight of their last 12, and 21 of their last 27 games. They are 40-28 on the road.
The Cardinals return home after a 5-5 road trip. They lost two of three games to the Milwaukee Brewers before this series. They are 1-2 against the Dodgers and are 35-30 at Busch Stadium.
The Dodgers are in the middle of a pennant race with an ace in the mound while the Cardinals are battling for the wild card.
Take the DODGERS (-220).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Dodgers are 65-72 ATS overall and 33-35 ATS on the road, and covered the spread in only one of their last five games. 16 of their last 24 wins have been by at least 2 runs. Only two of Scherzer’s starts for the Dodgers have been 1-run games.
The Cardinals are 68-67 ATS overall but 29-36 ATS at home, and are 37-30-1 ATS as underdogs. Four of their last 10 losses have been by exactly 1 run.
Take the Dodgers -1.5 (-125).
Over/Under (O/U)
Only 43.3% of the games at Busch Stadium have gone Over the projected total.
Only three of the last 12 games for the Dodgers have had totals of 8 or more runs. Only two of Scherzer’s six starts as a member of the Dodgers have finished with totals of 8 or more runs.
Six of the Cardinals’ last 13 games have had 8 or more runs.
Take UNDER 7.5 (-108).
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