The San Francisco Giants (34-32) and St. Louis Cardinals (27-40) play the 2nd contest of a 3-game set Tuesday at Busch Stadium. First pitch is at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Giants vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Giants lead 4-1
The Cardinals’ bullpen handed the Giants Monday’s game by a 4-3 score. St. Louis relievers allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk in the 7th and 8th innings with just 1 punchout. That’s far too many for your setup men. The Cards bullpen has a 1.35 WHIP, which is 21st in MLB.
The Giants allowed runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out in the 8th inning, but 3B Nolan Arenado popped out to 1st base for a 2nd out. RHP closer Camilo Doval stepped in and walked C Willson Contreras to load the bases before shutting the door the rest of the way for his 17th save. The Giants are 6-4 over their last 10 games and 11-7 against the NL Central.
The Cardinals continue to cycle through different ways to lose each game. They are far too reliant on home runs, and that gets them into bad habits where they can’t score runs in crucial situations. St. Louis is 7-16 in 1-run games and has lost 8 of its last 10 outings.
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Giants at Cardinals projected starters
RHP Alex Cobb vs. RHP Jack Flaherty
Cobb (5-2, 3.01 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.35 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 in 74 2/3 innings.
- Last 7 starts: 4-1, 3.48 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 38 K in 41 1/3 IP; allowed 11 of 16 ER in 2 starts
- 3 career starts vs. St. Louis: 2-0, 0.86 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 22 K in 21 IP
Flaherty (3-4, 4.15 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.50 WHIP, 5.2 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 in 69 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 8 K in a 1-0 road win vs. the Texas Rangers Wednesday
- 4 career starts vs. Giants: 1-1, 3.80 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 22 K in 21 1/3 IP
Giants 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 2:32 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Giants -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Cardinals -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Giants -1.5 (+155) | Cardinals +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Giants at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Giants 4, Cardinals 2
Moneyline
The Cards are favored in this one in part because Flaherty has found something in his mechanics to turn his season around. He must have partially lost that in his last start as he walked 5, but he was able to keep them from scoring. Flaherty’s 40 walks are tied for the most in the NL and 2nd most in MLB.
On the other side, Cobb threw a 6-hit shutout against the Cards in April and has yielded 2 ER over 14 IP in his 2 recent starts against them. The Cards also lost closer RHP Ryan Helsley to a forearm strain in a bullpen that has already been overmatched.
Take the GIANTS (-105).
Run line/Against the spread
The Cards are playing far too many 1-run games to take the Giants here, but the Cards aren’t playing well enough to trust to stay within a run at -190.
PASS.
Instead, I like ALEX COBB OVER 4.5 STRIKEOUTS (-160). He has struck out 5+ in 4 straight starts and 5 of 7.
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Over/Under
Neither club has been an Over team as San Francisco is 3-7 O/U over the last 10 and St. Louis is 3-6-1 O/U over the last 10. This total has been steamed up from 8.5 this morning as the win is blowing out at 13 mph toward right-center.
The Under is 10-0-1 in the Cardinals’ last 11 games following a loss and 5-0-1 in their last 6 against a team over .500. The Under is also 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these sides.
Take the UNDER 9 (-120).
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