St. Louis Cardinals vs La Dodgers Picks and Predictions August 18th 2024

Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are facing off against Sonny Gray and the Cardinals. The Dodgers are 72-52 this season, and they are starting to pull away in the NL West. The Cardinals are 61-62 and are 2nd in the NL Central.

The over/under line for Sunday’s matchup is at 8 runs, and the Dodgers are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -120. This NL matchup can be seen on BSMW.

Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are on the road to take on the Cardinals today. Kershaw is coming off a win in his last start, where he went 5 2/3 innings and struck out 6. He has not gone more than 5 2/3 innings in any of his starts so far this season.

Shohei Ohtani has been one of the top power hitters in the league this season, as his 38 home runs are the 2nd most in the league and the best mark on the Dodgers. Overall, he is batting .291 for the season. However, Ohtani has struggled of late, going just 6/43 in his last 10 games. Freddie Freeman has been hot of late for the Dodgers, batting .341 over his last 10 games.

As a team, the Dodgers are 3rd in home runs and are also among the league leaders in team OPS, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. They are averaging 4.9 runs per game on the road and 5.0 runs per game at home.

Sonny Gray will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing as he gets the start for the Cardinals today. In his most recent start, he took the loss, giving up six earned runs in five innings of work. Looking back over his last four outings, Gray has finished with a no-decision in three of them. He has made 22 starts this year and has a record of 11-7 with a 3.93 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .215 off Gray this year, and his ERA at home is 2.87 compared to 5.81 on the road.

St. Louis comes into the game with the 24th scoring offense in the league, averaging just 4.1 runs per game. Their home and road splits are pretty similar, with the Cardinals averaging 4.4 runs per game at home and 3.9 on the road. As a team, they are batting .246, which is 9th in the league.

Over his last 10 games, Nolan Arenado has two homers and is hitting .297. Alec Burleson has also been swinging a good bat of late, going 10/35 in his last nine games, including two homers. For the season, he leads the team with 21 homers and is batting .278.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, dealing with a string of injuries to their starting pitchers, are relying on Clayton Kershaw to lead them to a crucial series win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. With the Dodgers facing challenges in their rotation, Kershaw’s return from offseason shoulder surgery has become essential to the team’s playoff push.

Kershaw’s Critical Role Amid Dodgers’ Injuries

Clayton Kershaw’s return to form is a bright spot for the Dodgers during a tough stretch. Kershaw, who is coming off his best start of the season, will take the mound on Sunday with the goal of stabilizing the Dodgers’ rotation. In his last outing, Kershaw limited the Milwaukee Brewers to just one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking two in a 5-2 victory.

Kershaw’s ability to “tunnel” his pitches—making his fastball and slider look nearly identical until the last moment—remains a key to his effectiveness, even as his velocity has dipped with age. The Dodgers will need that craftiness, especially with their current reliance on less experienced pitchers due to injuries in their rotation.

Kershaw’s career numbers against the Cardinals are strong, with a 10-6 record and a 3.00 ERA in 21 starts. He’s also been particularly effective against key St. Louis hitters like Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Pham, and Willson Contreras, which bodes well for his chances of delivering another strong performance.

Dodgers’ Rotation Struggles and Freeman’s Injury

The Dodgers’ pitching staff has been stretched thin, especially after Tyler Glasnow was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow tendinitis. With Justin Wrobleski and Bobby Miller called up to fill the gaps, the Dodgers have struggled; the duo has allowed eight runs over 9 2/3 innings in their recent starts. Kershaw’s ability to provide a deep, quality start on Sunday is crucial for giving the Dodgers’ bullpen some much-needed relief.

Adding to the Dodgers’ challenges, first baseman Freddie Freeman left Saturday’s game with a jammed middle finger. While X-rays were negative, Freeman is considered day-to-day, and his absence could impact the Dodgers’ offense, making Kershaw’s performance even more critical.

Cardinals’ Fight to Stay in the Playoff Race

The St. Louis Cardinals, who ended a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 win on Saturday, are in a must-win situation as they try to stay in the National League wild-card race. Manager Oliver Marmol emphasized the urgency, saying, “You either step up to the challenge, or you’re done.”

The Cardinals will send right-hander Sonny Gray to the mound, hoping for a bounce-back performance after a rough outing against the Cincinnati Reds last Monday, where he allowed six runs, including three homers, over five innings. Gray has struggled with the long ball this season, surrendering 17 home runs in 130 2/3 innings—a significant jump from the eight he allowed in 184 innings last year.

Gray’s success on Sunday will heavily depend on his ability to keep the ball in the park against a powerful Dodgers lineup. In his career, Gray is 1-3 with a 3.31 ERA in six starts against Los Angeles.

Game Implications: Kershaw vs. Gray

The pitching duel between Clayton Kershaw and Sonny Gray will be the key factor in Sunday’s series finale. Kershaw, with his experience and recent form, is poised to lead the Dodgers to a series win, which would be a significant boost as they navigate a tough stretch with an injury-hit rotation. On the other side, Gray will need to overcome his recent struggles and limit the damage from a potent Dodgers lineup if the Cardinals hope to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Conclusion: Kershaw Aims to Steady Dodgers in Series Finale

As the Dodgers and Cardinals gear up for the decisive game of their three-game series, all eyes will be on Clayton Kershaw. The veteran left-hander has the opportunity to secure a series win for Los Angeles and provide some much-needed stability to a rotation beset by injuries. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, led by Sonny Gray, are fighting to stay in the postseason race. Sunday’s game is crucial for both teams, with Kershaw’s performance likely to be the deciding factor.

Our lean for an over/under pick is to take the over, as we have this as the 3rd lowest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Dodgers to pick up the win. Los Angeles comes in with the 2nd best chance to win among today’s starters, and Clayton Kershaw has the 2nd best odds to earn the win. On the other side, Sonny Gray is 15th in our projections in strikeouts among today’s starters.