In last year’s shortened season, the St. Louis Cardinals finished 30-28. They placed second in the NL Central Division and qualified for a second-consecutive postseason. Below, we look at the St. Louis Cardinals’ MLB futures odds, including their projected 2021 win total and World Series odds at BetMGM.
The Cardinals were one of four NL Central teams to make the 2020 playoffs, joined by the first-place Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, all four were eliminated in the first round with the Cardinals getting shut out 4-0 in a deciding Game 3 vs. the San Diego Padres.
St. Louis made the biggest MLB news in the offseason by trading for 3B Nolan Arenado. The five-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner hit .300 and averaged 39.8 homers and 124.2 RBIs for the Colorado Rockies between 2015-19. With the unique short season last year, he struggled to get into a groove, hitting a career-low .253 with 8 homers and 26 RBIs in 48 games.
The Cardinals’ other big offseason news was re-signing C Yadier Molina and RHP Adam Wainwright.
They did lose two-time Gold Glove 2B Kolten Wong, who signed a free-agent deal with the rival Brewers and traded OF Dexter Fowler to the Los Angeles Angels.
The rotation, which ranked fifth in the NL with a 3.86 ERA, remains mostly intact with Wainwright, RHP Jack Flaherty and LHP Kwang Hyun Kim. RHP Miles Mikolas is expected back after missing last season due to surgery on his right arm, while the Cards look to replace RHP Dakota Hudson, who had Tommy John surgery last September.
St. Louis Cardinals’ 2021 World Series odds
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 11 at 1:12 a.m. ET.
Odds: +2200 (bet $100 to win $2,200)
The Los Angeles Dodgers (+350) are the favorites, followed by the New York Yankees (+550), Chicago White Sox (+900) and Padres (+900).
At +2200, the Cardinals have the shortest odds out of the NL Central. Their implied probability of winning the World Series is 4.35% or 22/1 fractional odds. With Arenado added to the mix and a decent pitching staff, a World Series futures bet on ST. LOUIS (+2200) is a decent value play.
The biggest long shots are the Pittsburgh Pirates (+20000) with an implied probability of 0.50% or 200/1.
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St. Louis Cardinals’ 2021 win total
Over/Under: 86.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Not counting last year’s shortened season, the Cardinals have won at least 87 games seven out of the past nine 162-game campaigns. St. Louis always seems to be in the hunt, and it should be there again. Bet OVER 86.5 (-110).
Odds to win the NL Central Division
- Cardinals: +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Reds +333 (bet $100 to win $333)
- Brewers: +375 (bet $100 to win $375)
- Cubs: +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
- Pirates: +6600 (bet $100 to win $6,600)
St. Louis’ implied probability of winning the division is 48.78% or 21/20 fractional odds. The risk isn’t worth the reward. AVOID.
Odds to win the National League
Odds: +1300 (bet $100 to win $1,300)
While the Cards have the shortest odds among all NL Central teams, they’re fifth on the board when it comes to the NL.
The Dodgers (+180) are the favorites, followed by the Padres (+425), Atlanta Braves (+600) and New York Mets (+600). At the other end, the Pirates (+10000) are the longest shots.
At +1300, the Cardinals’ implied probability of representing the NL in the World Series is 7.14% or 13/1 fractional odds. I don’t feel it’s a big enough payoff, so I’m going to PASS.
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