Dodgers vs Cardinals Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 9 (9/9): MLB

Dodgers vs Cardinals Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 9 (9/9): MLB

Credit: photo by Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

 
Odds
Time 1:15 p.m. EST
Dodgers money line -190
Dodgers run line -1.5 (-125)
Cardinals money line +175
Cardinals run line +1.5 (-105)
Over / under 8.5 (-110)

 

Key stats
  Dodgers Cardinals
Record 88-52 70-68
Road / home record 42-29 36-32
Last 10 record 6-4 4-6
Streak L1 W1
Over / under record 59-72-9 62-68-8
Runs / game 5.06 4.14
Runs allowed / game 3.45 4.31

 

Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in St. Louis for the final game of a four game series Thursday afternoon.  The Dodgers took the first game 5-1, the second game 7-2 and dropped last night's game 5-4.  The Dodgers sit 2 games behind the Giants in the powerful NL West, while the Cardinals are 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race.  The Dodgers have won 6 of 9, while the Cardinals have dropped 4 of 5.

Dodgers bats have been active, with 5.2 runs per game over their last 5 games.

Cardinals bats have been a bit sluggish, with 2.6 runs per game over their last 5 games.

Pitching matchup

Dodgers

Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 2.78 ERA) starts for the Dodgers.  He comes off a 2.31 ERA 2020 and a 2.93 ERA 2019, but typically only goes 3-5 innings.  He comes back after being on the unjured list due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder.  He was pitching well before the injury, with one bad outing in his last game against the Diamondback (1.2 innings with 2 earned runs).  Before that, in July he went a combined 21.0 innings, giving up 5 earned runs on 15 hits, with 11 walks.  Cardinals batters have gone 0 for 12 against Gonsolin, with 5 strikeouts.

Cardinals

Jake Woodford (2-3, 4.47 ERA) makes his 4th start for the Cardinals.  The reliever turned starter comes off a 5.57 ERA 2020.  He pitched well in his last outing vs the Brewers, going 5.1 innings with 2 hits and no runs, after two poor starts against the Twins and Red Sox.  He saw the Dodgers in early June as a reliever, going 2.1 innings, giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 earned run.  Dodgers batters have gone 2 for 7 against Woodford, with 1 home run, 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

Prediction

This will come down to the bullpens by the 4th or 5th inning.  The Cardinals bullpen has a 4.22 ERA, while the Dodgers bullpen is 2nd best in the Majors with a 3.18 ERA.  The Dodgers bats have been churning runs, and the Cardinals have struggled.  Gonsolin is coming off a should injury, so there's certainly a question mark on him getting back to form, but we think he'll be pulled early and it will be handed to the 2nd best bullpen.  Woodford isn't great, so we think the Dodgers can take advantage early and hold on for the win.  -190 is never fun, so take the run line.

PICK: Dodgers -1.5 (-125)

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