The Arizona Diamondbacks (8-11) and St. Louis Cardinals (10-7) clash in a series opener at Busch Stadium Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting of 2022. St. Louis went 6-1 against Arizona last year.
Arizona arrives in St. Louis after acquitting itself well in a tough 6-game home stand against the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The D-backs went 3-3 over the half-dozen games and are 5-3 across their last 8.
The Cardinals snapped a 3-game losing skid with a 10-5 home win over the New York Mets Wednesday. The 10 runs were a welcome change for a Redbirds club that had averaged just 2.60 runs per game over its previous 10 contests. Over that stretch, St. Louis logged a paltry .546 OPS.
RHP Humberto Castellanos vs. RHP Dakota Hudson
Castellanos (1-0, 3.00 ERA) has notched a 1.25 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 through 12 IP over 4 games (2 starts).
- Allowed just 2 runs in 9 IP as a starter
- Logged a 4.93 ERA in 45 2/3 IP last season
Hudson (1-1, 3.95 ERA) makes his fourth start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 through 13 2/3 IP.
- Held Cincinnati Reds scoreless in a 6 2/3 innings Saturday in last start
- Appeared in just 13 games (2.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP in 61 1/3 IP) since having Tommy John surgery in 2020
Diamondbacks at Cardinals odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 2:40 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Diamondbacks +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Cardinals -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Diamondbacks +1.5 (-140) | Cardinals -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -120)
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Diamondbacks at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 4
Money line
This wager fits as a play fading a Cardinal bullpen getting by on a .250 batting average on balls in play and a St. Louis offense leveraging a .359 BABIP in high-leverage situations.
The visiting Diamondbacks have played well lately. Their bullpen is not in great shape heading into Thursday’s game, but the tag here makes DIAMONDBACKS (+145) worth a shot even if its a 55-60% likelihood the Cards win the game.
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Run line/Against the spread
PASS. The plus money is worth the shot in the money-line play.
Over/Under
There is some growth room in the Arizona batting and run-scoring numbers, and much of the pitching analysis on both sides is fade-worthy. With the low total, BACK THE OVER 7.5 (-105).
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