The Colorado Rockies (42-66) and St. Louis Cardinals (48-62) open up a 3-game set at Busch Stadium Friday. First pitch is at 8:15 p.m. ET (MLB.TV Free Game of the Day). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rockies vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cardinals lead 2-1
The Rockies enter this one 3-7 over the last 10 games. They dropped series at home to the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics and sit firmly in last place in the NL West. They struggle mightily on the road at 17-36 and are 8-10 against the NL Central.
The Cards have lost 5 of 7 as they became sellers at the trade deadline. They still boast a talented roster, but the problem for them, which it has been all year, is pitching. They’ll have RHP Adam Wainwright seeking career win No. 199 on the mound Friday.
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Rockies at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Chris Flexen vs. RHP Adam Wainwright
Flexen (0-5, 8.08 ERA) makes his 6th start and 19th appearance. He has a 1.93 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 in 45 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 6 BB, 4 K against the Oakland A’s Saturday
- 2023 road stats: 0-1, 10.69 ERA (16 IP, 19 ER) in 8 games (1 start)
- 2 career starts vs. Cardinals: 0-2, 11.88 ERA, 11 ER in 8 1/3 IP
Wainwright (3-5, 7.18 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.90 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 4.9 K/9 in 62 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K Saturday against Chicago Cubs
- 2023 home stats: 1-4, 8.16 ERA (32 IP, 29 ER) in 7 starts
- Last 5 starts vs. Rockies: 4-0, 1.51 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 26 K in 35 2/3 IP – Most recent: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 13-0 road victory August 18, 2022
Rockies at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:07 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rockies +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Cardinals -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rockies +1.5 (-120) | Cardinals -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Rockies at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 6, Rockies 4
Moneyline
The Cards have played the Rockies well in recent years, going a combined 10-6 since the start of 2021. Granted, this is a different Cardinals team. One thing to keep in mind, though, is the Cards only have a couple of reasons left to play for as they evaluate talent for 2024. One of those reasons is to get Waino to 200 wins before he calls it quits after the season. He gets No. 199 here, but we are not paying -190 on this team.
Head to the Win/Total section and take the CARDINALS AND OVER 5.5 (-125).
Run line/Against the spread
All 3 games between the teams have ended with multiple-run deficits. The Cards are just 24-31 on the RL at home this season. They also have the 24th-ranked bullpen ERA at 4.49. So there’s no way I trust them at -1.5.
PASS.
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Over/Under
The Rockies are 5-5 O/U over the last 10. Take that with a grain of salt, though, because 8 were in Coors. The Cards are 4-6 O/U over the last 10. The Over is 6-4 over the last 10 between the teams. Both starters have Goodyear blimp ERAs. Go easy, but I’d take the OVER 9.5 (-115) in this one.
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