The third matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals is set for Saturday night.
The Dodgers picked up the win on Friday as the teams have split the first two games in the series.
Which of these two is the best bet to cash on the MLB odds on Saturday?
Dodgers Bounce Back
The Dodgers looked rattled on Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing a whopping 16 runs.
Those who bet online were stunned to see the Dodgers pitching get rocked like that.
However, they settled down on Friday and forced a 5-0 shutout. Pitcher Tony Gonsolin continued to get back into the groove after suffering an ankle injury, giving up just one hit in five innings.
Mookie Betts was also able to smash a three-run homer to help the Dodgers tie the Atlanta Braves for the most home runs in the National League this year. The homer helped them get to 75 on the season.
Cardinals On The Rise?
The Cardinals started the year 10-24 and were the worst teams in the National League. It was a stunning start as many MLB betting experts expected this team to compete for the top spot in the NL Central.
Since then, though, they’ve u-turned, winning 9 of 12.
More recently, they’ve been uneven. We saw them dismantle the Milwaukee Brewers 18-1, just to lose 3-2 the next day. They won 16-8 against the Dodgers, just to get shut out the following day there as well.
Manager Oliver Marmol didn’t have a reason, he just said, “You see enough baseball you know that’s exactly how this game goes sometimes.”
One interesting note: Paul Goldschmidt has stolen 30 consecutive bases without getting nabbed. He’s helped the team get the highest stolen base percentage mark in the league.
Starting Pitchers
Noah Syndergaard (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs Miles Mikolas (St. Louis Cardinals)
The Dodgers are sending out Syndergaard to get this game rolling. He got his first win with the Dodgers at the end of April but remains 1-3 this year.
He’s posted solid numbers against the Cardinals in his career though, going 3-3 with a 4.22 ERA against them. Los Angeles has also won the last four games he’s appeared in.
Miles Mikolas will get the nod on the other end. Mikolas is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA this season, but his past matchups with the Dodgers have been shaky at best.
He hasn’t beaten the Dodgers since 2019 and also hasn’t played them since 2021 when he gave up five runs in five innings. Careful backing this team in the sportsbook given his history.
Dodgers vs Cardinals Head-to Head
The Dodgers have beaten the Cardinals in four of their five head-to-head games this season. Their lone loss was the contest they gave up 16 runs to St. Louis in this current series.
Dodgers vs Cardinals Game Information
- Game: Dodgers (29-17) vs Cardinals (19-27)
- Location Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
- Day/Time: Saturday, May 20, 7:15 p.m. ET
- Dodgers vs Cardinals Live Stream: MLB.tv
Dodgers vs Cardinals Betting Lines
Over/Under Pick
The total for this game is set at 9.5 and these teams have surpassed 9.5 runs in three of their five games against one another this season. Keep that in mind as you make your MLB picks.
Neither pitcher has phenomenal numbers with both Syndergaard and Mikolas floating around the 5.00 ERA mark.
Look for runs to get scored at a higher pace than their previous contest, take the over.
Pick: Over 9½ (-115)
Moneyline Pick
The Dodgers should be able to come out of this one on top. Mikolas has gone years since beating the Dodgers, and Los Angeles has won four of five contests with them in 2023.
Not to mention that they’ve won the last four games that Syndergaard has appeared in while also boasting the highest home run total in the National League.
If you’re uncertain, stick with live betting. Otherwise, Los Angeles should pull this one out.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -107
