The St. Louis Cardinals are set to host their division rival Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. The action will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Net Wisconsin is in line to broadcast the game.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Vegas has listed St. Louis (-130) as the favorite over Milwaukee (+120). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 8.5 runs and -110 for under 8.5. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds coming in at Brewers +1.5 runs (-175) and Cardinals -1.5 runs (+155).
The Cardinals are 66-56 straight up (SU) and 61-60 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle much for gamblers, losing 0.7 units for moneyline bettors and 1.1 units (ATS). St. Louis has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Brewers, on the other hand, have gone 68-55 SU this year and are 64-59 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 10.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 1.1 units ATS. Milwaukee has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven.
St. Louis games have a 57-59-5 over/under record in 2018. Milwaukee has an over/under record of 58-61-4.
Freddy Peralta is the probable starter for the visiting Brewers. Peralta (5-3, 4.47 ERA) has racked up 74 strikeouts in 56.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Cardinals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Cardinals are planning to start righty Jack Flaherty (6-6, 3.22 ERA), who has 127 strikeouts and 36 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.08. Flaherty is 0-0 with 22 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA over two starts against Milwaukee this year.
As a unit, St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 4.2 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have an ERA of 3.45, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.0. The bullpen has a 4.25 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.2 K/9. In 58 games against NL Central foes, Cardinals starters have an ERA of 3.57 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.47.
St. Louis’ offense is putting up 4.6 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .296/.380/.491 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Cardinals’ batters have been led by left fielder Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Jose Martinez. Ozuna is hitting .270/.313/.397 with 14 home runs, 64 RBIs and 49 runs scored, and Martinez is hitting .306 with 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 41 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Milwaukee’s pitching staff allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 7.73 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.76, along with a K-per-9 of 10.13.
The Brewers offense has slashed .249/.319/.415 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 3.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Milwaukee’s offensive production has been sparked by outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. Yelich is slashing .309/.372/.514 with 18 home runs, 60 RBIs, 82 runs and 14 stolen bases. Cain (.301/.391/.423) has produced nine homers, 31 RBIs, 62 runs and 21 stolen bases.
The Brewers have gained 14.6 units and are 50-41 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over’s hit in 38 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Brewers, O/U – OVER
