The Cleveland Guardians (90-65) and the St. Louis Cardinals (77-77) played the middle contest of a 3-game interleague series Saturday. First pitch from Busch Stadium is set for 7:15 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Guardians vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Guardians lead 1-0
The Guardians clinched a postseason spot Thursday afternoon in a win against the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland kept its foot on the gas Friday, winning 5-1 in the interleague series opener as a slight underdog (+102) as the Under (8) cashed.
The Cardinals slipped to .500 with the loss Friday, and they’re now just 3-5 in the past 8 games. The Under has cashed in 5 of the past 6 outings, while the total has gone low at a 11-3-1 clip in the previous 15 contests. The Cards were eliminated from postseason contention with Friday’s loss.
In interleague play, Cleveland is just 4-6 in the past 10 games against the National League, while going just 2-5 in the past 7 road contests vs. NL teams. The Under is 5-0-1 in the past 6 interleague games, too.
For St. Louis, it has lost 5 straight interleague games, while going just 1-6 in the past 7 outings against the AL. The Under is 4-2-1 in the past 7 outings against American League opponents.
Guardians at Cardinals projected starters
LHP Matthew Boyd vs. RHP Miles Mikolas
Boyd (2-1, 2.52 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.07 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 in 35 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 2 2/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 4-3 home win vs. Minnesota Twins Monday
- 2024 road splits: 1-0, 2.87 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 3 HR, 1.21 WHIP, .213 opponents’ batting average (OBA), 6 BB, 17 K in 3 starts
- Career vs. Cardinals: 1-0, 1.38 ERA (13 IP, 2 ER), 2 solo HR, 1 BB, 17 K, 0.54 WHIP, 11.8 K/9 in 2 starts
Mikolas (8-11, 5.49 ERA) makes his 31st start. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 6.4 K/9 in 160 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K in 3-2 road loss vs. Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday
- 2024 home splits: 1-6, 6.54 ERA, 74 1/3 IP, 54 ER, 14 HR, 1.35 WHIP, .289 OBA, 12 BB, 52 K in 14 starts
- Last 7 games: 0-2, 6.96 ERA, 32 1/3 IP, 25 ER, 2 BB, 28 K, 1.36 WHIP
- Career vs. Guardians: Loss, 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 1 start, a 2-0 road setback Aug. 2, 2014
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Guardians at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of MLB odds. Lines last updated at 12:40 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Guardians -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Cardinals +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians -1.5 (+135) | Cardinals +1.5 (-160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Guardians at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 5, Cardinals 2
Moneyline
The GUARDIANS (-135) are worth a look as moderate favorites behind the southpaw.
The Cardinals (+115) have managed a respectable 22-19 record against LHP this season, but the problem is Mikolas. St. Louis is 1-3 in his past 4 outings, and 1-3 in his previous 4 assignments at home, too.
The Cards are also just 3-5 in the past 8 Games, while going 1-4 in the past 5 interleague battles at Busch Stadium.
Run line/Against the spread
The GUARDIANS -1.5 (+135) are worth playing lightly on the run line, if you’re a little more adventurous. More risk equals more reward. Cleveland has won 6 of the past 7 games, although 3 of the past 4 wins are by a single run.
As a favorite, the Guardians are 2-4 in the past 6 as a favorite on the run line, so be careful.
Over/Under
UNDER 8 (-115) is the lean, but like the run line above, play this lightly with a half-unit play at most.
For the Cardinals, the Under is on a 5-1 run in the past 6 games, while going 11-3-1 across the previous 15 contests.
As far as the Guardians are concerned, the Under is 15-2-3 in the past 20 games, while cashing low at a 8-1-2 clip in the past 11 outings on the road.
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