The St. Louis Cardinals came to Dodger Stadium for the first game of a three-game series and got a victory over Los Angeles on Friday night. Albert Pujols hit home runs No. 699 and 700 to join an elite group consisting of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth.
It was part of a five-home run night for the Cardinals, who pounded the Dodgers by a score of 11-0. Clayton Kershaw will be called on for Los Angeles to try and rebound from the loss. The Cardinals are countering with Jordan Montgomery.
It will be the second straight game that two lefties will start, though the outcome favors the Dodgers. Can Los Angeles get revenge from last night, or will St. Louis win its third consecutive game?
Find out in our free MLB picks and predictions for Cardinals vs. Dodgers on September 24.
Cardinals vs Dodgers best odds
Cardinals vs Dodgers picks and predictions
After being embarrassed Friday night at home, the Dodgers are looking for a little payback and should get it with Clayton Kershaw pitching for LA. Kershaw was lights out the last month and has shown little effects from the back injury he suffered at the beginning of August.
The ageless wonder will be trying to pick up his third win of September after winning his last two starts. He has had four starts in September and has allowed four runs in 14 hits in 24 innings. His ERA for the month is sitting at 1.50.
Of Kershaw's four starts in September, the one against the NL East-leading New York Mets was the most impressive. He limited the Mets to one run on one hit in five innings, though he wasn’t around for the decision as the Dodgers eventually lost to New York, 5-3.
Relief pitching has been an issue for the Dodgers. On Friday, manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Craig Kimbrel would not be the Dodgers closer. Instead, Roberts is probably going to go to a trio of relievers for closer duties.
That means Kershaw will have to go deep for Los Angeles tonight. Luckily, that hasn’t been a problem. In his four starts in September, the veteran has pitched six or more innings three times.
This is the first time Kershaw has faced the Cardinals since August of 2019, where he gave up one run on four hits through seven innings. The season series between the two teams is currently deadlocked at 2-2. In the two games that the Dodgers have won, they have cleared the run total of 1.5 once.
Throw out last night’s game, and the Cardinals are just 1-6 in their last seven meetings at Chavez Ravine. They are also 4-10 overall against the Dodgers in their last 14 games.
With the run line at an attractive +120, I’ll take it and expect the Dodgers to get some revenge.
My best bet: Dodgers -1.5 (+120 at BetRivers)
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Cardinals vs Dodgers moneyline analysis
The line for this game is heavily tilted towards the Dodgers. Sportsbooks have it anywhere from -175 to -189 after initially opening at -164. Los Angeles has the best record in baseball, and the main reason for that has been their offense.
The Dodgers are third in the MLB in batting average at .259 and are first in runs at 802. Los Angeles also ranks fourth in team home runs.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are seventh in home runs, third in RBIs, eighth in hits, and fourth in runs. They showed how efficient at scoring they can be when they plated 11 runners in Friday night’s shutout victory.
However, they are sending Jordan Montgomery to the mound on Saturday night, and the former New York Yankee has struggled in his last two games. He has allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 14 hits in 10 1-3 innings. The southpaw picked up losses in both of those games against the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers’ offense should be able to get to Montgomery early. The run line for the first five innings is -0.5 at -115. Not great odds, but a heck of a lot better than the moneyline.
Cardinals vs Dodgers Over/Under analysis
In three of the four games the Cardinals and Dodgers have played this season, the Over has hit in three of them. The total for tonight’s game is at 7.5 and has stayed at that number since it opened.
With Clayton Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers, there is a quick inclination to take the Under. I don’t think he is the key here, however. Kershaw is going to toss another low-scoring outing if recent forms hold.
The real key when handicapping this total is the Dodgers' relievers. Since Craig Kimbrel was demoted, the closing duties are going to fall most likely on Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Alex Vesia. Phillips will be the likely first choice and has two saves already this season, but he's also allowed 29 hits in 58 innings.
Phillips is still ripe for allowing runs, and a team with the offensive firepower like the Cardinals can certainly take advantage of that. Besides, the way Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery has been pitching as of late, the Over might come from him. In his last two starts (both losses), the lefty has given up nine runs on 14 hits in just 10 2-3 innings.
The Over is 5-1 in the last six for the Cardinals against a pitcher with a WHIP less than 1.15. For the Dodgers, the Over is 7-0 in their last seven against a team with a winning record and 4-1-1 in their last six of a Game 2 of a series.
Cardinals vs Dodgers trend to know
The Cardinals are 2-6 in their last eight at Dodgers Stadium. Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Dodgers
Cardinals vs Dodgers game info
| Location: | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Saturday, September 24, 2022 |
| First pitch: | 9:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SportsNet LA |
Starting pitchers
Jordan Montgomery (5-2, 2.35 ERA): Since coming to the Cardinals from the New York Yankees, Montgomery has gone 5-2, but those two defeats were in his last two outings. Montgomery has allowed nine runs in those two games, neither of which he has gone more than 5.1 innings. He allowed a home run in both games as well. The 29-year-old lefty is seeing the Dodgers for the first time this season.
Clayton Kershaw (9-3, 2.39 ERA): This will be the first time the 34-year-old left-hander will face the Cardinals this season, but he has pitched well against other NL Central opponents. Kershaw has given up two runs in 20.2 innings and allowed 17 hits against the division in 2022. He has been strong in his last four starts since returning from a back injury that forced him out of most of August.
Cardinals vs Dodgers latest injuries
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Cardinals vs Dodgers weather
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