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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals Free Preview

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals will do battle against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium. This NL matchup will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Arizona will broadcast the game.

Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals Odds

Arizona (-200) is favored over St. Louis (+170) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 8 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at +105 for the Diamondbacks +1.5 runs and -115 for the Cardinals -1.5 runs.

The Cardinals are 3-3 SU and 3-2 ATS. They’ve lost 1.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.6 units against the spread (ATS). The Diamondbacks are 5-1 SU and have gone 3-2 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 3.0 units for moneyline bettors this year and 1.0 unit ATS.

Cardinals games have an over/under record of 3-2 so far in 2018. Arizona has an over/under record of 3-2.

The Diamondbacks have lost 0.5 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to one that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Cardinals have netted 1.0 units and are 1-0 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in zero of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under.

The left-handed Robbie Ray (1-0, 10.80 ERA) will get the start for Arizona. Ray recorded 218 strikeouts in 162 innings last year (28 starts) while finishing the season 15-5 overall with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.

The Cardinals are turning to righty Adam Wainwright, who started 23 games last year while finishing the season 12-5 overall with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 4.2 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.82, a WHIP of 1.36 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.3. The bullpen has a 4.82 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.

The St. Louis offense is putting up 4.8 runs per outing so far this season and the team has slashed .273/.344/.472 to begin the year.

Shortstop Paul DeJong and right fielder Tommy Pham have led the Cardinals’ offense so far. DeJong is hitting .455/.500/.864 with 10 hits, five RBIs and five runs scored, while Pham is batting .333 with eight hits, two RBIs and six runs.

DeJong performed well at home in 2017. In 193 plate appearances, he slashed .358/.404/.654 (compared to his total season line of .285/.325/.532).

In the visiting dugout, Arizona’s pitching staff allowed 3.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 11.10 K/9. The bullpen has managed an outstanding ERA of just 2.22, along with a K/9 of 7.40.

The Diamondbacks offense has slashed .257/.355/.424 on its way to 5.8 runs scored per game this year.

Shortstop Nick Ahmed and right fielder A.J. Pollock have led Arizona’s hitters. Ahmed is slashing .471/.526/.824 with eight hits, seven RBIs and four runs scored, while Pollock is slashing .304/.407/.565 with seven hits, four RBIs and four runs scored.

Ahmed seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitching last season. Over 122 plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .198/.238/.345 (his total season line was .256/.303/.427).

Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Diamondbacks, O/U – OVER

Notes

Betting Notes

The Cardinals went 4-3 SU against the Diamondbacks last season.

The Cardinals have won three of their last four games SU

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen posted 2.11 ERA against the Cardinals last year.

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Written by GMS Previews

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