Dodgers Are MLB Betting Underdogs Against Cardinals on Wednesday

The marquee series of the early week in Major League Baseball is Dodgers at Cardinals, two of the most successful National League franchises of all time. It could be a playoff preview. They kicked off the series on Monday night, with the Dodgers taking the first game and they continue tonight with Game 2. It’s Game 3 of a four- game set on Wednesday night and the Cardinals will be MLB odds favorites for the national TV game.

LA Dodgers at St. Louis MLB Betting Prediction & TV Info

3 more HRs, 4 more scoreless relief innings and a 5th straight @Dodgers win to begin the series in St. Louis https://t.co/cD0zwKncha

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 29, 2017

When: Wednesday, May 31, 8:15 PM ET Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Probable pitchers (away/home): Hyun-Jin Ryu/Carlos Martinez TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Radio: Los Angeles / St. Louis Opening MLB Lines: Cardinals favored by TBA

Why Bet On LA Dodgers?

The Dodgers need a fill-in starter here because they put lefty Alex Wood on the disabled list. Wood (6-0, 1.69 ERA) was diagnosed with inflammation of his left SC joint, which connects the sternum to the clavicle. He felt compression in the area after making a pitch in the second inning against the Cubs on Friday. Both Wood and manager Dave Roberts expressed the hope that Wood will only miss one outing. Wood was slated to pitch Wednesday against the Cardinals. Hyun-Jin Ryu figures to replace him. Manager Dave Roberts could not commit to Ryu, though, because the team could use him as a relieve before then. The team called up RHP Brandon Morrow from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Wood’s roster spot. Morrow has posted a 5.71 ERA over 17 relief appearances in Triple-A this year, but he has allowed just two runs over 9 1/3 innings of work this month. Morrow has mostly pitched as a starter in the majors, but he’ll pitch in relief with the Dodgers. The Cards won the opener of the series 5-1 on Monday. Logan Forsythe swatted his first home run as a Dodger. Forsythe took Kevin Siegrist deep to lead off the eighth inning. Cody Bellinger homered for the second game in a row. Bellinger was given the green light on a 3-0 offering from Mike Leake in the fourth inning and he blasted it well into the right field seats for a solo shot. As for Ryu, the lefty is 2-5 with a 4.28 ERA. He was switched to long relief last time out and fared well, shutting out these Cardinals on two hits over four innings. It was Ryu’s first big-league relief appearance and he earned his first save. He became the second Dodger to record a save in his first career relief appearance, joining Charlie Hough, who did it on Aug. 12, 1970, at Pittsburgh. It was Ryu’s first relief outing as a pro since 2011 in the Korean Baseball Organization.

Why Bet On St. Louis?

The Cardinals have optioned former starting outfielder Randal Grichuk to High-A Palm Beach. The move cleared a spot for Jose Martinez’s return from the disabled list. Grichuk has struggled with a .222/.276/.377 batting line across 46 games this season and the Cardinals want him to work on his strike zone discipline in the minors. “Over the last week or so he’s really been struggling at the plate, we wanted to give him the opportunity to take a deep breath, allow him to work on some stuff down in Jupiter where there’s a little bit less stress,” GM Mozeliak said of Grichuk. Mozeliak added that he didn’t want to send Grichuk down to Triple-A Memphis, which would have been the “simple thing” to do, because the team knows Grichuk can hit there. The Cards placed second baseman Kolten Wong on the DL Sunday. The 26-year-old Wong left a game May 20 with elbow discomfort and did not return to the starting lineup until Wednesday, missing one game and pinch-hitting in another. He is batting .278 with one home run and 16 RBIs this season. The Cardinals brought in rookie infielder Paul DeJong as Wong’s replacement. It’s Carlos Martinez (3-4, 3.32) on the mound here. Martinez gave up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out nine over 7.1 innings in Friday’s 10-0 loss to the Rockies. The right-hander’s strong effort in Coors Field got wasted as the Cards’ offense couldn’t take advantage of its surroundings, and the bullpen fell apart as soon as Martinez left the game. He’s now delivered six straight quality starts.

LA Dodgers at St Louis MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis Cardinals

Martinez has a sparkling 2.40 ERA in six home starts this season.