St. Louis Cardinals vs La Dodgers Dodgers Picks and Predictions August 17th 2024

From Busch Stadium in St. Louis, we have the Dodgers and Cardinals facing off in an NL matchup. The Dodgers are 72-51 and they are starting Bobby Miller, while the Cardinals are 60-62 and will have Andre Pallante on the mound. Los Angeles is currently 1st in the NL West, while the Cardinals are 2nd in the NL Central.

The money line odds for Saturday’s matchup have the Dodgers at -166, while the Cardinals are the home underdog at +139. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and FOX will be televising this one.

Los Angeles vs. St. Louis Key Information

Right-hander Bobby Miller is getting the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Cardinals on the road. He has made seven starts this season and has a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 8.07. Miller’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.83. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up nine earned runs in four innings of work. Looking back over his last four outings, Miller has allowed at least two home runs in each start. So far, he has allowed a total of seven homers. Per nine innings, Miller is averaging 5.59 walks compared to 8.38 strikeouts.

Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best power hitters in the league this season, as his 37 homers are 2nd in the league and lead the Dodgers. However, he has struggled at the plate of late, hitting just .114 over his last 10 games. Teoscar Hernandez is also a big power threat in the lineup, as he has gone deep 26 times this season, which is 11th in the league.

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Freddie Freeman has been swinging a hot bat for the Dodgers, going 14/42 in his last 10 games. During this stretch, he has one home run and four RBIs. Overall, Freeman is batting .333 since joining the Dodgers. As a team, the Dodgers are 5th in the league in runs scored and have the 3rd best team slugging percentage in the league.

Right-hander Andre Pallante gets the start for the Cardinals today as he faces the Dodgers at home. He has made 12 starts this season and has a record of 4-6 with an ERA of 4.21. Pallante’s WHIP for the season is 1.36, and opponents are batting .233 off him this year. In his 21 appearances, he has turned in three quality starts, and his ERA at home is 3.52 compared to 4.0 on the road. Pallante most recently faced the Royals, where he gave up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work. He finished with a no-decision in that outing.

St. Louis comes into the game averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. They have been even worse on the road this season, averaging just 3.9 runs per game. The Cardinals have been pretty good at avoiding strikeouts this season but have been below average in terms of drawing walks. As a team, they are batting .245 and have the 11th ranked batting average in the league.

Paul Goldschmidt has really struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .231, and he has gone 4/17 in his last five games. However, he has gone deep twice in that stretch. Alec Burleson has been a bright spot for the Cardinals, leading the team with 20 home runs and a batting average of .274. Brendan Donovan is also having a solid season, batting .270 with nine homers.

Today’s Dodgers and Cardinals matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is our highest projected scoring game of the day. For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Dodgers to come out on top. Los Angeles has the best team hits projection and 4th best home runs projection. Looking at today’s starters, we have Bobby Miller as our 15th best strikeout pitcher compared to Andre Pallante, who is 7th worst.

Dodgers Seek to Maintain Momentum Against Cardinals Amid Pitching Woes

The Los Angeles Dodgers are managing a continuous test: safeguarding their revolution as wounds keep on stacking up. With the latest difficulty of losing starter Tyler Glasnow to the harmed list, the Dodgers plan to adjust and get one more win against the St. Louis Cardinals in the center round of their three-game street series.

Glasnow Raises a ruckus around town List

Tyler Glasnow, who has been a solid presence in the Dodgers’ revolution, was put on the 15-day harmed list because of elbow tendinitis. Glasnow, holding a 9-6 record with a 3.49 ERA, was initially booked to pitch on Saturday, yet his new elbow irritation required a shift in direction. This advancement adds to the Dodgers’ mounting list of harmed pitchers, which as of now incorporates Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, and Stream Ryan.

Glasnow’s injury history, particularly with his elbow, raised concerns when he began experiencing discomfort. After undergoing testing, Glasnow expressed a desire to pitch despite the results. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided against it, citing concerns about the risks involved.

“I would have been on pins and needles watching Glasnow pitch,” Roberts admitted, emphasizing the need to prioritize Glasnow’s long-term health. Consequently, the Dodgers opted to shut him down for at least his next two starts.

Bobby Miller Steps In

In Glasnow’s place, the Dodgers have called up Bobby Mill operator from Triple-An Oklahoma City. Mill operator, who was scratched from his booked start for Oklahoma City on Thursday as a safeguard, will presently take the hill for Los Angeles.

Mill operator’s season has been inconsistent, set apart by shoulder irritation prior in the year, which has added to his 0-1 record and 5.82 ERA in five Triple-An excursions. In spite of these struggles, Mill operator has shown glimmers of splendor, remarkably in his main vocation appearance against the Cardinals recently. On Walk 29, Mill operator pitched six shutout innings, permitting just two hits while striking out 11 and strolling none in a 6-3 triumph.

The Dodgers are confident that Mill operator can recreate that presentation as they look to broaden their new run of accomplishment, having won six of their last eight games.

Dodgers’ Victory in Series Opener

The Dodgers managed to edge out the Cardinals in a close 7-6 victory on Friday, with rookie Justin Wrobleski earning his first big league win. Wrobleski’s promotion was initially intended to provide Glasnow with an extra day of rest, but it ultimately turned into a crucial move due to Glasnow’s injury.

Kevin Kiermaier was the offensive hero for Los Angeles, driving in four runs, which proved to be the difference in the game. The Dodgers’ resilience in overcoming a tight contest underscores their ability to adapt, even as their pitching staff faces significant challenges.

Cardinals Look to Break Losing Streak

While the Dodgers are navigating their own issues, the St. Louis Cardinals are in the midst of a rough patch. The loss on Friday extended their losing streak to five games, dropping them two games below .500 for the first time since June 12. This stretch has also seen the Cardinals fall 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and four games out of the last NL wild-card position.

Despite the recent struggles, Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt remains focused on the bigger picture. “I don’t think the goal is ever to be .500 or anything about .500,” Goldschmidt said. “Our goal is to get into the playoffs, and that is what we’ll continue to try to do.”

Pallante Takes the Hill for St. Louis

The Cardinals will turn to Andre Pallante to try and end their losing streak. Pallante, who holds a 4-6 record with a 4.21 ERA, has shown flashes of potential but has also struggled with consistency. In his most recent outing on August 10, Pallante allowed just one earned run over 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals, showing his ability to keep opponents in check.

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However, Pallante’s performance this season has been uneven. While he has held opponents to one earned run or none in four of his past seven starts, he has also battled control issues, walking 14 batters during that span. His strikeout numbers—29 in those seven starts—indicate his potential to dominate, but his inconsistency remains a concern.

Pallante has faced the Dodgers twice this season in relief, allowing three runs on three hits over three innings. His career numbers against Los Angeles include a 5.06 ERA in four appearances, all out of the bullpen.

Cardinals Face Tough Road Ahead

The Cardinals’ ongoing struggles come at an especially difficult time, as they leave on a grouping of 22 games against groups with winning records. Supervisor Oliver Marmol recognizes the trouble of the assignment ahead not entirely settled to keep his group serious.

“Some guys are on fumes, and some guys are feeling OK where they are,” Marmol said before the series began. “We’re going to continue to take our best shot. Nothing changes. We’ve been here before.”

As the Dodgers and Cardinals plan for Saturday’s matchup, the two groups are managing their own arrangement of difficulties. For the Dodgers, the attention will be on dealing with their pivot in the midst of continuous wounds, while the Cardinals will be hoping to turn around their new fortunes and stay in the season finisher race.