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The St. Louis Cardinals (16-24) take on the Los Angeles Angels (15-26) Monday in the opener game of a 3-game set at Angel Stadium at 9:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Angels swept Cards 3-0 last year
The Cards bullpen was spectacular Sunday as it held on for a 4-3 road victory to salvage a game against the Milwaukee Brewers and snap a 7-game skid. Relievers JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Helsley threw 3 shutout frames with 5 K’s. Unlikely source CF Michael Siani hit one off the top of the wall to drive in the eventual winning run in the 7th. St. Louis cashed as a +134 underdog and the Under (9) hit.
The Halos dropped their Sunday affair against the Kansas City Royals 4-2 — the Angels’ moneyline odds were -109 and the Under (8) cashed. L.A. lost 3 of the 4 games in the series and is just 3-6 in the last 9 games. The Angels are searching for offense with CF Mike Trout (knee) out. Their 27th-ranked 4.73 ERA doesn’t leave much margin for error.
Cardinals at Angels projected starters
LHP Matthew Liberatore vs. RHP Jose Soriano
Liberatore (1-1, 3.54 ERA) makes his 2nd start and 15th appearance. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 7.1 K/9 in 20 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 5-1 home loss to Chicago White Sox May 5
- Has never faced Angels
- Career as starter: 4-7, 5.57 ERA (82 1/3 IP, 51 ER), 1.65 WHIP, 7.0 K/9 in 19 outings
Soriano (1-4, 4.32 ERA) makes his 7th start and 9th appearance. He has a 1.35 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 in 33 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday
- Never faced Cardinals
- Career as starter: 1-3, 4.28 ERA (27 1/3 IP, 13 ER), 1.39 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 in 6 starts
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Cardinals at Angels odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:18 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cardinals -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Angels -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals -1.5 (+150) | Angels +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cardinals at Angels picks and predictions
Prediction
Angels 5, Cardinals 3
Moneyline
The Cards have scored 4+ runs in 3 of the last 10 games. The Angels have done it 5 times, and they won 4 of those games. The race to 5 runs likely secures the win, and the Angels are 5-1 against lefties.
I don’t trust the Cardinals offense to score 5. Take ANGELS (-110).
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
There’s no play here. Soriano throws hard. He averages 99.1 mph on his 4-seamer and 98 mph on his sinker. This Cardinals team has struggled against high heat. Take JOSE SORIANO OVER 5.5 K’S (+120).
Over/Under
The Angels are 4-5-1 O/U over the last 10 games, and the Cards are 5-5. It’s slated to be a 64-degree evening with an 8-mph gust blowing out to center. This one is more of a pick ’em than the ML, but if you’re going Over here, you’re potentially relying on the Cardinals to score 4 runs.
LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-110).
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