No Separation Between Division Heavyweights
With identical 39-31 records and a flat-footed tie atop the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers are set up for a back-and-forth summer. They’ve split the first two games of this four-game series and halved eight earlier meetings in April and May.
Check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports and MLB odds for Cardinals vs Brewers. There are plenty of MLB predictions.
Rookie Sparks Cardinals
With slugger Paul Goldschmidt sidelined due to a back ailment, the St. Louis Cardinals were looking for a spark. They got it Tuesday from rookie second baseman Nolan Gorman, who went 4-for-4 with his first career two-homer game.
“He hits it hard, he’s been preparing well and he’s loose on the bench regardless of how it’s going,” manager Oliver Marmol said of Gorman, who has six homers in 29 games after clubbing 15 in 34 games at Triple-A Memphis to begin the season.
Gorman figures to stay in the lineup while hot but his presence in it Tuesday was due in part to the status of Goldschmidt. Marmol has indicated that his star first baseman, who leads the NL in OPS (1.031), will return soon — perhaps by Wednesday.
Veteran Adam Wainwright will get the start for St. Louis as he looks to bounce back from an uneven outing his last time out. Working without longtime companion Yadier Molina (knee) behind the plate, Wainwright gave up four runs in 6.1 innings at Fenway Park on Friday.
Molina remains on the IL, so Wainwright will be forced to throw to Andrew Knizner or Ivan Herrera as he tries to spell a bullpen that needed to get 18 outs Tuesday. Perhaps that factors into things when you bet online at the sportsbook.
Brewers Need Jolt on Offense
The Milwaukee Brewers have just four runs on 10 hits in the series, during which they’ve gone an atrocious 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
A few more big knocks would do wonders for a team battered by injuries to its rotation. With Brandon Woodruff waiting in the wings on a rehab assignment, Aaron Ashby – the replacement when Freddy Peralta went down – was placed on the IL on Tuesday.
Eric Lauer, who leads the staff in wins with six, will try to give Milwaukee some length after the bullpen needed to work five innings in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss. He defeated the Cardinals with five so-so frames last month in St. Louis, but has given up 12 runs in 11.1 innings over his last two starts.
The Brewers’ all-or-nothing offensive approach has been on display this series. All four runs have come via the long ball for a team that ranks second in the NL in home runs but 11th in hits and 12th in on-base percentage.
Some sustained rallies vs. Wainwright would go a long way toward taking control of this series, especially after the St. Louis bullpen put in heavy work Tuesday..
Cardinals vs Brewers Head-to-Head
As mentioned before, the teams have split the first 10 meetings. Seven of them have seen the teams combine to score eight runs or fewer. After Thursday’s series finale, they won’t meet again until Aug. 12.
Cardinals vs Brewers Game Information
- Game: Cardinals (39-31) vs Brewers (39-31)
- Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
- Day/Time: Wednesday, 8:10 p.m. ET
- Cardinals vs Brewers Live Stream: MLB.TV
Cardinals vs Brewers Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| St. Louis Cardinals
A. Wainwright -R |
+1½ -200 | Ev | 9 Evo | 4½ -105o
4½ -125u |
| Milwaukee Brewers
E. Lauer -L |
-1½ +170 | -110 | 9 -120u | 4½ +115o
4½ -145u |
Cardinals vs Brewers Prediction
The MLB lines on this one seem to indicate a relative toss-up. Perhaps this is one where you can take a stab at an over/under, and we like the chances of a low-scoring affair.
Consider that the teams have combined for 10 total runs in two games. And that the Cardinals received most of their run support on Tuesday from a rookie while top slugger Goldschmidt nursed a back injury. And that the Brewers have scored four runs or fewer in seven of the 10 matchups this season. And that Wainwright and Lauer have been steady, if not spectacular.
All of this causes us to lean toward the under in Milwaukee.
