The St. Louis Cardinals (88-63) open up a 3-game series Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers (104-46). First pitch from Dodger Stadium is set for 10:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cardinals vs. Dodgers odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Dodgers lead 2-1
The Cardinals have a 1/2-game lead in the NL Central. They have lost 3 of their last 4 games but salvaged the final game of a 3-game series at the San Diego Padres Thursday. St. Louis is 7-5 in its last 12 games.
The Dodgers have already clinched the NL West as they lead the 2nd-place Padres by 21 games. Los Angeles picked up a 3-2 win Thursday as it took 3 of 5 games from the Arizona Diamondbacks to improve to 14-5 in its last 19 games.
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Cardinals at Dodgers projected starters
LHP Jose Quintana vs. LHP Andrew Heaney
Quintana (5-6, 3.16 ERA) makes his 30th start of the year and 10th since joining the Cardinals. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9 through 151 IP.
- The Cardinals have won 8 of his 9 starts since acquiring him
- Is coming off his best start of the season in which he pitched 8-scoreless innings with 2 hits allowed against the Cincinnati Reds Saturday
- Has a 0.96 ERA over his last 3 outings
Heaney (3-2, 2.66 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 13.6 K/9 through 61 IP.
- Pitched 4 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts at the San Francisco Giants Sunday in his last outing
- The Dodgers are 10-3 when he pitches
Cardinals at Dodgers odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:47 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Cardinals +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Dodgers -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals +1.5 (-140) | Dodgers -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Cardinals at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 4, Cardinals 2
Money line
The Cardinals have been mediocre on the road this season at 37-36 while the Dodgers are 52-20 at home with the second-most home wins in all of baseball.
Both teams are used to winning when their Friday starter is on the mound. Heaney has only pitched into the 6th inning only 3 times, while Quintana has pitched more than 5 innings just 4 times in 9 starts with the Cardinals.
Since both starters aren’t likely to go deep into the game, the bullpens come into play. The Dodgers have a 2.94 bullpen ERA, the 2nd-best in baseball; the Cardinals are 12th at 3.73.
Take the DODGERS (-180).
Run line/Against the spread
Three of the Dodgers’ last 4 wins have been by 1 run but only 15 of their 104 victories on the year have come by that margin. They are 91-59 ATS overall this season 44-28 ATS at home.
The Cardinals are 84-67 ATS overall and 40-33 ATS on the road.
Two of the 3 games between these teams have been decided by a single run.
The Cardinals were shut out in 3 consecutive games before scoring 5 runs Thursday.
Take the DODGERS -1.5 (+115).
Over/Under
Two of the 3 games between the Cardinals and Dodgers have had 13 runs as the total but both of Friday’s starters have been consistently good.
The Cardinals have only had 2 games in their last 9 outings that reached 9 total runs. Nine of the last 11 contests for the Dodgers have had 8 or fewer runs.
Take UNDER 8.5 (-115).
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