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Welcome back baseball betting fans! The St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers will square off at American Family Field and open up a four-game series on Thursday. It's time to continue our MLB odds series where our Cardinals-Brewers prediction and pick will be revealed.
Already hit with two postponements on the young year, the Cards will be eager to get out on the diamond on Thursday evening. Back on the mound will be RHP Adam Wainwright, who has pitched so long for St. Louis that he was there to see the Gateway Arch be built in 1967. Although only kidding, the 40-year-old Wainwright is off to a fabulous start on the season, as he threw six innings of scoreless baseball in his first start versus the Pirates.
As for the Brewers, Milwaukee has rattled off two straight wins after slightly stumbling out of the gate at Chicago. The Brewers will be sending out righty Brandon Woodruff, who definitely would like to have a redo in his last start versus the Cubs where he only lasted 3 2/3 of an inning while giving up seven earned runs on six hits. In 2021, the Brewers outlasted the Cardinals in the NL Central Division by five games, finishing 95-67 on the year.
Here are the Cardinals-Brewers MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Cardinals-Brewers Odds
St. Louis Cardinals: +1.5 (-176)
Milwaukee Brewers: -1.5 (+146)
Over: 8 (-110)
Under: 8 (-110)
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Why The Cardinals Could Cover the Spread
After having only played two games in the last four days, the Cardinals are longing to return to the field to continue to show what they are all about in 2022. Sitting at 3-1, one could prematurely say that St. Louis has looked the part of a National League contender only a handful of games into the campaign.
In order to replicate the success that has been experienced so far in the “Gateway to the West”, St Louis will need to continue to lean on an offensive attack that has the third-highest batting average mark in the league at .271. The Cardinals have excelled at hitting the long ball, with their .527 slugging percentage paving the way for the top spot in all of baseball. In fact, the Cardinals have managed to score at least one run in the first inning in each of their first four games played.
Keeping the opposition off the scoreboard will be key for St. Louis, as ageless wonder Adam Wainwright will try to do his best impersonation of Nolan Ryan in 1987, where the former Houston legend led the league in ERA at the age of 40. Wainwright has been the model of consistency each year and has quickly become one of the great hurlers in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 49 career games versus Milwaukee, Wainwright has a record of 20-12 with a 2.60 ERA. In 2021, Wainwright pitched rather effectively against the Brew Crew, compiling a 3.62 ERA in three starts.
The Cardinals were 45-36 out on the road in 2021, a number that they would need to improve even further in their pursuit at the NL Pennant.
Why The Brewers Could Cover the Spread
After starting out as visitors in their first six games, the Brewers have finally made it to American Family Field to play the 2022 home opener in front of their fans. Heading into 2022, expectations are high in the Dairy State, and with good reason. After coming up short against the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. Throughout their 51-year franchise history, Milwaukee has reached postseason play eight times, but have yet to get a grip on a championship.
After starting out shaky to open the season against the Cubs, the Brewers have now won three of four, and are starting to gain momentum in their chase at the Commissioner's Trophy. Milwaukee could cover the spread against their bitter division rivals because of the amount of expected energy within the ballpark, which should give a boost to Brewer hitting and pitching alike.
In order to get out on the right foot at home on Thursday, the Brewers will need a strong, bounce-back performance from their ace in Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff was outstanding in 2021, as the two-time All-Star has posted a 3.30 ERA in ten career games versus the Cards. While Woodruff was no doubt roughed up in his first start of the season, Milwaukee should expect the Mississippi native to come back to form on Thursday night.
Final Cardinals-Brewers Prediction & Pick
While the Cardinals have been hot and may even end up being the more complete squad in 2021, traveling to a hostile environment in Milwaukee in what will be their home opener will be no easy task. While this one may be close throughout, the Brewers will tack on a few runs late while shutting the door with their elite bullpen play. The Brewers treat the home crowd to an Opening Day victory!
Final Cardinals-Brewers Pick: Brewers -1.5 (+146)
