The Detroit Tigers (61-66) and St. Louis Cardinals (63-61) meet Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. ET to close out a two-game interleague set at Busch Stadium. Let’s analyze the lines around the Tigers vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
LHP Tarik Skubal is the projected starting pitcher for the Tigers. He is 8-11 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 in 123 IP over 24 games (22 starts).
- Has notched a 3.49 ERA over his last five turns with improved control.
- Owns a 5.68 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 65 IP through 15 career road appearances.
LHP Jon Lester is the projected starting pitcher for the Cardinals. Lester is 4-6 with a 5.46 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, and 3.6 BB/9 through 95 2/3 IP across 20 starts.
- Has experienced some control issues (4.0 BB/9 in August) while running into too many bats this month.
- Has allowed 4 or more earned runs in three of his last four starts.
Tigers 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 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Tigers +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Cardinals -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Tigers +1.5 (-190) | Cardinals -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under: 9.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Prediction
Cardinals 6, Tigers 4
Money line (ML)
Detroit won Tuesday’s series opener 4-3 and is 3-1 on a road trip that started in Toronto. The Tigers have yielded just 10 runs over those four games.
St. Louis is 2-5 on its home stand, and the Cardinals are just 4-9 over their last 13 games at Busch Stadium.
However, a Redbirds offense that struggled in the first couple months of the season has come on to be a top-10 group this summer. St. Louis owns a .751 OPS since June 28, and the Cards are at their best against left-handers with a .734 OPS.
Lester starting makes for a better price on the money line; the Cardinals bullpen has been improved of late and it helps make them the better value. However, PASS on the money line – there is better leverage to be found on the run line.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
BACK THE CARDINALS -1.5 (+145).
With some upside to the St. Louis offense and bullpen and on a sweltering, breeze-out afternoon at Busch Stadium, figure on the price being right for a bit of separation.
Over/Under (O/U)
Statcast quality-of-contact metrics peg the Redbirds as being quite unlucky in their averaging 4.06 runs per game. Most other expected-runs measures fall in line with that assessment.
Both clubs have platoon numbers that heavily favor more offense when facing left-handers.
TAKE THE OVER 9.5 (-108).
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