Odds, Picks and Predictions
- The Philadelphia Phillies are 81-81 against the run line this season.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are 87-75 against the run line this year.
- The Phillies are 42-39 against the run line when playing on the road.
- The Cardinals are 45-36 against the run line when playing at their home field.
- Philadelphia is 33-21 against the run line as an underdog.
- St. Louis is 51-47 against the run line as a favorite.
The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals will battle in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card series on Friday.
The Phillies just did sneak into the postseason as the third Wild Card team. Philadelphia endured their share of ups and downs in 2022, but it was ultimately a productive campaign for the ball club. However, they will have quite the challenge in the Wild Card series against this talented Cardinals team.
The Cardinals cruised to an NL Central victory. Since the Dodgers and Braves had better records than them, St. Louis is forced to play in the Wild Card series instead of having a bye. The Cardinals are favorites against Philadelphia and can’t afford to take them for granted.
The first pitch is scheduled for 2:07 PM EST on Friday, October 7th, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO.
Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +103 | O/6.5 | +1.5 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | -107 | U/6.5 | -1.5 |
The Cardinals enter this game as favorites. St. Louis has fared well in 2022 and is expected to advance to the NLDS.
It will be interesting to see if their pitching can contain the Phillies’ potent lineup. Philadelphia’s going to lean on their lineup and the front end of their rotation to try and upset the odds on the road.
This may end up being a more competitive series than people are anticipating.
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Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
Philadelphia Phillies Preview
The Phillies came into the 2022 campaign with high expectations. But they struggled to find a sense of consistency during the course of the season. A big reason for that was the division they play in.
The NL East consists of three tiers. The Mets and Braves made up the top tier, while the Marlins and Nationals were the obvious bottom tier. That left Philadelphia in the middle, searching for an identity.
They were not quite good enough to keep up with Atlanta and New York, but they’ve proved they are worthy of a playoff spot. And as we have seen in years past, anything can happen in the postseason.
Philadelphia is an offensive-based team. The Phillies rank eighth in batting average, ninth in OBP, sixth in slugging percentage, seventh in runs scored, and sixth in home runs. With sluggers such as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos in the lineup, this is an offense that is a force to be reckoned with.
Meanwhile, Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler make up a dynamic 1-2 punch in the rotation. The Phillies finished the season ranked 17th in team ERA, but that was mainly a product of their lack of pitching depth.
If Wheeler and Nola pitch to their full capability during the playoffs, Philadelphia will have an opportunity to upset the MLB odds. But there is a lot of pressure on the Phillies’ top pitchers to get the job done.
Zach Wheeler is the scheduled starter for Game 1. Wheeler went 12-7 with a 2.82 ERA in 2022. His season was especially impressive given the fact he battled early-year injury concerns.
Wheeler is looking to shut down the Cardinals and lead Philadelphia to a crucial Game 1 road win.
St. Louis Cardinals Preview
The Cardinals were in the battle for the NL Central division race through the trade deadline. But the Brewers backtracked at the deadline and traded Josh Hader while not making any necessary additions.
Meanwhile, St. Louis added key pitchers such as Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana. As a result, the Cardinals earned a fairly NL Central division victory.
The Cardinals’ mixture of immense talent and veteran leadership makes them a threat this postseason. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado will both receive MVP votes. There is a strong chance that Goldschmidt will end up winning the award.
And then there is Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright. The veteran trio have all been through the playoffs before and know exactly what to expect. They will remain unfazed regardless of what October may throw their way.
The Cardinals are a consistent ball club. They rank within the top 10 in most hitting and pitching categories. Their bullpen and defensive effort have also played a role in their 2022 success.
St. Louis may not have the most talent, but they are one of the most complete teams in baseball.
The Cardinals will send Jose Quintana to the mound for this Game 1 affair. Quintana was acquired from the Pirates ahead of the MLB trade deadline and went on to finish the season with a 6-7 record and a 2.93 ERA.
St. Louis believes he can take care of business to open the postseason.
Injury Report
Brad Hand was placed on the Phillies’ 15-day IL a week prior to the playoffs. He is dealing with elbow tendinitis, and his timetable is unclear.
Tyler O’Neal will miss the Cardinals’ Wild Card series but could possibly return for the NLDS as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions
The Cardinals are favored in Game 1. But Jose Quintana could run into some trouble against the Phillies’ talented right-handed bats.
Meanwhile, Zach Wheeler is going to rack up some strikeouts while keeping the Phillies in the game.
In the end, this is going to be an exciting contest. The Cardinals should be able to earn the win but will have trouble covering the run line in Game 1.
The Pick:
Take the Cardinals on the moneyline (straight-up win/loss bet).
Take the Phillies +1.5 on the run line.
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