The St. Louis Cardinals (2-4) and Milwaukee Brewers (5-1) renew their Central Division rivalry with the opener of a 3-game set Friday at American Family Field. First pitch is at 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cardinals vs. Brewers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: 1st meeting; St. Louis won 10-9 in 2022.
The Cardinals were overpowered by the visiting Atlanta Braves and outscored 17-7 in a 3-game sweep earlier in the week. The Cardinals have been Jekyll & Hyde out of the gate as they nearly swept the visiting Toronto Blue Jays to start the season if not for a season-opening bullpen meltdown.
The Brewers finished off a 3-game home sweep of the New York Mets with a 7-6 win Wednesday. The Brewers outscored the Mets 26-6 in the set, which included consecutive shutouts. 3B Brian Anderson, an offseason free-agent signing, has been dominant, hitting .500 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs in the first 6 games.
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Cardinals at Brewers projected starters
RHP Jack Flaherty vs. RHP Brandon Woodruff
Flaherty (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his 2nd start of 2023. He threw 5 hitless, shutout innings and struck out 4 but walked an astounding 7 batters in a 4-1 home victory vs. the Blue Jays Saturday.
- Had similar shaky start against Milwaukee when he returned from injury last June, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 5 walks with 2 K’s in 3 innings of a no-decision, which Cards won 6-2
- Brewers are hitting .290 with a .431 wOBA in 79 plate appearances against Flaherty
Woodruff (0-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He allowed 1 earned run on 3 hits and a walk, while fanning 8 in 6 innings of a no-decision at the Chicago Cubs Sunday, which Milwaukee won 3-1.
- Last 5 starts vs. Cards: 2-2, 1.80 ERA (25 IP, 5 ER), 0.96 WHIP, 29 K
- Cardinals are batting just .190 with a .257 wOBA in 153 plate appearances against Woodruff
Cardinals at Brewers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:22 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cardinals +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Brewers -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals +1.5 (-155) | Brewers -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cardinals at Brewers picks and predictions
Prediction
Brewers 4, Cardinals 2
Moneyline
I really like the BREWERS (-155) in this one and am willing to lay the extra juice. Flaherty just hasn’t been the same pitcher since injuries began piling up in 2020 — I believe his opening start was a fluke — and Woodruff has been lights out against the Cards.
TAKE BREWERS (-155).
Run line/Against the spread
I’ll stay away from the RL here out of respect to the Cardinals offense, and I’ll double down on the BREWERS FIRST 5 INNINGS (-165) for the same price. Flaherty has a lot of control issues that he was able to slither away from in his 1st start. He won’t be so lucky Friday.
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Over/Under
I like UNDER 8.5 (-110), though Flaherty could give up 5 or more and make it interesting. As mentioned, Woodruff has allowed 5 runs to the Cards in 25 innings during his last 5 against them.
This O/U line could really be 7.5. The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 between the teams and 4-1-1 in the last 6 in Milwaukee. TAKE UNDER 8.5 (-110).
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