Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals 8/18/24 – The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the best teams in baseball, are pitted against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium which promises a thrilling encounter as the MLB season enters its crucial phase. The Dodgers always challenge for honors and they want to maintain their position with this game but it will be difficult because the Cardinals will be looking for what is beyond break-even point . This game is important not only to those who follow win-loss standings but also to sportsbooks offering MLB top free picks today so that you can come up with your own.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals 8/18/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Sunday, August 18, 2024 at 2:15 PM ET |
| Where: | Busch Stadium |
| TV: | TBD |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Los Angeles Dodgers (72-52) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (61-62)
The Dodgers keep on proving why they are arguably one of the best teams in Major League Baseball with their strong roster and pitching. They are a team to watch out for as they have an average batting .253, slugging percentage of .434, and 165 home runs. Particularly, their performance against NL teams is worth noting in light of the Braves-Angels game today. Their balanced approach that involves good hitting plus pretty good pitching (ERA – 3.77 and WHIP – 1.21) indicates that this team can dominate at bat or at the mound.
On the contrary, however, though having a quiet season so far, Cardinals’ numbers are still quite impressive when taken on our off guard moments. Their batting average stands at .245 while homers recorded are at 126 with slugging percentage of .387. In most statistical categories, they may not be able to overtake the Dodgers but never underestimate them after their various performances against NL West teams such as today’s Giants vs Athletics match. Compared to other statistics given by the Dodgers pitchers (ERA – 4.21; WHIP – 1.28), Cardinal’s pitching has been somewhat unspectacular but adequate enough for them to be in contention for a wildcard spot.
Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 3.50 ERA) vs. Sonny Gray (11-7, 3.93 ERA)
Clayton Kershaw has only pitched a few innings, he has given us a glimpse of his past performance. The numbers may not be as good as they were in his best year ever (3.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 18 innings) but the little we have seen so far shows that he can strike people out (17 strikeouts) and keep the ball from leaving the park (1 HR). In this game, the Dodgers’ fate will hugely depend on Kershaw’s expertise and composure.
Conversely, Sonny Gray has been an unflagging performer for St Louis, recording eleven wins with a 3.93 ERA over 130.2 frames. His impressive counting stats — really high strikeout rate at 162 and relatively low WHIP at 1.08 — tell you something about him this season; what is more important to note is how effectively he manages games while keeping his team always around . Only, he has to face one of the toughest line-ups in baseball that just puts runs on the board through their pitching staffs’ weak spots that it exploits to maximum effect- a difficult task for anyone at any time.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 +129, Total Odds: 7.5
The current betting odds favor the Dodgers as slight favorites on the spread, reflecting their superior season performance and statistical advantages. The over/under set at 7.5, with a leaning towards the over, suggests an expectation of a relatively high-scoring game, potentially influenced by both teams’ ability to hit home runs and the vulnerability of each starting pitcher given their current season dynamics.
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends
The Dodgers have shown a strong performance overall but have struggled in consistency on the road, going 7-13 SU in their last 20 away games. However, they maintain a positive record against the Cardinals in recent matchups, which might give them a psychological edge. Their tendency to score heavily against NL teams could play into the over bettors’ hands.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends
St. Louis has had its challenges, especially in recent games, with a 1-5 SU record in their last 6 games. However, they have a strong record at home against the Dodgers, which could influence the outcome. Their overall performance against NL West teams and in high-scoring games also provides a nuanced angle for bettors.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals 8/18/24 Betting Picks
The Dodgers appear set to win this game based on statistical analysis and current form of both teams, although it will probably be a tight contest. The Dodgers’ big bats and Kershaw’s pitching though he is not that much can just about see off the Cardinals given St. Louis’s most recent performances.
For gamblers, taking the -1.5 spread in favor of the Dodgers could be a tactical bet as they would have overall ability and possess previous history over the Cardinals where their games usually produce more than 7.5 runs. Furthermore, taking into account the offensive skills of these two teams as well as the pitching match-up, betting on over 7.5 runs might be smart especially for exclusive picks today.