The Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday to open a 3-game series at Busch Stadium. First pitch in the Opening Day contest is slated for 4:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jays vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023. The teams split 4 games in 2022.
Toronto went 92-70 to finish 7 games behind the New York Yankees for the 2022 AL East flag. The Blue Jays started fast (14-8) and finished strong (22-11), but were a just above-average team in between.
The Cardinals won the NL Central, going 93-69 last season. Fifty-three of those 93 wins came at home. Overall, St. Louis averaged 4.77 runs per game while allowing 3.93.
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Blue Jays at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Alek Manoah vs. RHP Miles Mikolas
Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA last season. He posted a 0.99 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 196 2/3 IP.
- Had some minor road struggles in his 2021 rookie season but remedied those in 2022 when he clocked a 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP south of the border
- Owns a sparkling 1.90 ERA over 10 career starts in April and May
In 2022, Mikolas notched a 12-13 record with a 3.29 ERA 1.03 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 in 202 1/3 IP.
- Had a 4.10 ERA on the road in 2022, but was dialed in to the tune of a 2.38 mark at Busch Stadium
- Allowed 1 ER in 18 combined innings in spring training and in the World Baseball Classic
Blue Jays at Cardinals odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Blue Jays -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Cardinals -105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jays -1.5 (+145) | Cardinals +1.5 (-170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Blue Jays at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jays 4, Cardinals 3
Moneyline
Peg these as solid numbers for this pitching matchup between these 2 likely playoff contenders. The righty-righty matchup and the way bullpens match up against top right-handed bats plays a bit in Toronto’s favor. Would consider the Jays more if they were priced at -110 or better. Otherwise …
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
No lean either way. St. Louis figures to be solid at home, but the Blue Jays have been a good road club.
AVOID.
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Over/Under
The Cardinal offense came out of the gate slowly last season (.661 OPS in March/April) and figures to be on its weak platoon side against a righty starter. With this mound matchup (and both starters having pitched well in spring training) and both bullpens being a square 1, figure on a low-scoring affair. TAKE THE UNDER 7.5 (-110).
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