The streaking St. Louis Cardinals (82-69) attempt to complete a four-game road sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers (91-61) Thursday afternoon. First pitch is at 2:10 p.m. ET at American Family Field. Let’s analyze the lines around the Cardinals vs. Brewers odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (16-7, 2.89 ERA) makes his 31st start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 through 196 1/3 IP.
- His 16 wins are already more than he has had in a season since winning 20 games in 2014.
- He has won five straight decisions and seven of his last eight. The Cardinals won his last six starts and 11 of his last 12.
Brewers RHP Adrian Houser (9-6, 3.43 ERA) makes his 25th start and 27th appearance. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 through 131 1/3 IP.
- He has faced the Cardinals twice this season and is 2-0 without an earned run allowed through 14 innings. He shut the Cardinals out Sept. 4 at home in a complete-game three-hitter.
- The Brewers won Houser’s last outing, but he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks across 4 innings.
Cardinals at Brewers odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cardinals -103 (bet $103 to win $100) | Brewers -117 (bet $117 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cardinals -1.5 (+160) | Brewers +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
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Prediction
Cardinals 4, Brewers 2
Money line (ML)
No one is hotter in the majors right now than the Cardinals, who have won 11 straight games and 13 of their last 14. They won the first three games of this series and have their ace on the mound Thursday.
The Brewers have lost four straight games but had won seven of nine before the slump. They have already clinched a playoff berth and even with the three losses to the second-place Cardinals in this series, still lead the NL Central by 8.5 games.
Entering this series, the Brewers led the season series 7-5 but now the Cardinals are up 8-7.
How they have played recently and with Wainwright on the mound makes this fairly easy. Take the CARDINALS (-103).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Seven of the Cardinals’ 11 consecutive wins were by at least 2 runs. Only three of Wainwright’s last 12 starts were 1-run games.
Only two of the Brewers’ last 15 losses were by 1 run.
In this game, you get value on both the money line and against the spread. You get near-even money for the Cardinals to win and, based on the trends with Wainwright on the mound, you have to like them winning by at least 2 runs.
Take the CARDINALS -1.5 (+160).
Over/Under (O/U)
One of the three games in this series had 9 or more runs. Seven of the Cardinals’ last 13 games had a total of 9 or more and nine of the last 15 games for Milwaukee had 9 or more runs.
However, Wainwright vs. Houser has the feel of a late-season pitching duel in a playoff race.
Take UNDER 8.5 (-125).
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