Dodgers vs. Cardinals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, May 18, 2023

May 18, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Los Angeles Dodgers (28-16) are favorites (-155) on the moneyline when they square off against the St. Louis Cardinals (18-26) Thursday at 7:45 PM ET, live on MLB Network.

Julio Urias takes the mound for Los Angeles while Adam Wainwright is St. Louis’ starter for the contest.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals Odds

Dodgers odds to win: -155
Cardinals odds to win: +133
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023
Time: 7:45 PM ET
TV: MLB Network

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Who Will Win Dodgers vs. Cardinals?

Dodgers and Cardinals Betting Trends

The Dodgers have won 65% of the games this season when they were favored on the moneyline (26-14).

In games it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -155 or shorter, Los Angeles has gone 11-10 (52.4%).

The Cardinals have entered the game as underdogs 20 times this season and won seven, or 35%, of those games.

This season, St. Louis has won one of its three games when it’s the underdog by at least +133 on the moneyline.

The Dodgers have combined with opponents to hit the over on the total 23 times this season for a 23-20-1 record against the over/under.

The Cardinals and their opponents have hit the over in 22 of their 44 games with a total this season.

Dodgers Stats & Insights

The Dodgers score the fourth-most runs in baseball (237 total, 5.4 per game).

Los Angeles ranks third-best in MLB play with 72 total home runs.

The Dodgers’ .232 batting average ranks 24th in MLB.

Los Angeles strikes out nine times per game to rank 25th in MLB.

The Dodgers pitching staff ranks 14th in MLB with a collective 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Los Angeles has the 10th-ranked team ERA across all MLB pitching staffs (3.91).

Cardinals Stats & Insights

The Cardinals are among the highest scoring teams in the majors, ranking ninth with 213 total runs this season.

St. Louis ranks eighth in Major League Baseball with 58 home runs.

The Cardinals rank sixth in MLB with a .262 team batting average.

St. Louis has shown good bat-to-ball skills at the plate this season with the ninth-best strikeout rate (8.2 per game) among MLB offenses.

The Cardinals have a nine K/9 this season as a pitching staff, which ranks 11th in the majors.

St. Louis has the 16th-ranked ERA (4.25) in the majors this season.

Dodgers Key Players to Watch

Urias (5-3) gets the starting nod for the Dodgers in his 10th start of the season. He’s put together a 3.61 ERA in 52 1/3 innings pitched, with 52 strikeouts.

Freddie Freeman leads Los Angeles with a .316 batting average. He’s also hit seven homers and has 23 RBI.

Mookie Betts has collected 40 hits this season and has an OBP of .360. He’s slugging .506 on the year.

Max Muncy leads the club in homers (14) and runs batted in (32) this season.

Will Smith is batting .330 with an OBP of .415 and a slugging percentage of .608 this season.

Cardinals Key Players to Watch

The Cardinals’ Wainwright will make his third start of the season.

Paul Goldschmidt has racked up a team-high batting average of .306.

Nolan Gorman’s 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in are both team-highs.

Nolan Arenado has four doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 12 walks while batting .263.

Tommy Edman has six doubles, a triple, six home runs and 11 walks while batting .276.

Dodgers and Cardinals Injuries

Dodgers: Dustin May: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Michael Grove: 15 Day IL (Groin), Jimmy Nelson: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Daniel Hudson: 60 Day IL (Knee), Walker Buehler: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Álex Reyes: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), J.P. Feyereisen: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Blake Treinen: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 60 Day IL (Oblique), Gavin Lux: 60 Day IL (Knee)

Cardinals: Dylan Carlson: 10 Day IL (Ankle), Tyler O’Neill: 10 Day IL (Back), Jake Woodford: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Packy Naughton: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Wilking Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)