LA Dodgers vs. St. Louis | MLB Betting Favorites & Analysis

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The two most successful National League franchises of all-time in terms of World Series wins are the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals, and they begin a potential playoff series preview on Tuesday from the Gateway City. The Dodgers are favored on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Dodgers at Cardinals MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:45 PM ET
Where: Busch Stadium
Probable pitchers (away/home): Mitch White/Matthew Liberatore
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers -135, Cardinals +125 (total 9)

Last Meeting

These teams played in the 2021 NL Wild-Card Game in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers winning 3-1 as Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning – Taylor is currently on the injured list. It was the fifth walk-off home run in a winner-take-all postseason game, after Pittsburgh’s Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series, the Yankees’ Chris Chambliss in the 1976 AL Championship Series and Aaron Boone in the 2003 ALCS, and Toronto’s Edwin Encarnación in the 2016 AL wild-card game.

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

Somehow, Freddie Freeman was not named to the NL All-Star team. Freeman has been the most consistent performer on a Dodgers team that has lived up to record expectations despite several struggling or injured stars. His .853 OPS has come with no days off in this era of load management, his 26 doubles ranking third in the NL. Freeman is slashing .304/.381/.494 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs.

The Dodgers come in on a seven-game winning streak after finishing a sweep of the visiting Cubs on Sunday with an 11-9 win. Freeman went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Freeman provided key hits in the sixth and seventh innings, knocking a solo home run and an RBI single to account for the Dodgers’ margin of victory. It was his third four-hit game of the campaign, and it got his average back over .300 after it dipped below briefly.

Shortstop Trea Turner, who will start in the All-Star Game, was 2-for-5 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday’s win. Turner provided a two-run single in the third inning to erase an early deficit for the Dodgers. He also stole second, but he was left on base. Despite hitting just .179 in his past seven games, Turner is slashing .301/.350/.474 with 17 stolen bases, 11 home runs, 61 RBI and 46 runs scored through 85 games.

Outfielder Mookie Betts and Turner will become the first pair of Dodgers to start the All-Star Game since 1981 when Fernando Valenzuela and Davey Lopes started the midsummer classic in Cleveland and the first time the Dodgers have had two position players in the starting lineup since 1980 when Steve Garvey, Lopes, Bill Russell and Reggie Smith starred in the 1980 Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium. This year’s ASG is also at Dodger Stadium.

It’s Mitch White (1-1) on the mound Tuesday. White tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-hit, one-run ball while taking a no-decision in last Wednesday’s win over the Rockies. Despite four walks, only an RBI single by Brendan Rodgers in the sixth inning ended up muddying his final pitching line. White struck out six on the evening and will carry a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45/19 K/BB ratio (13 appearances, eight starts; 35 2/3 innings) into Tuesday.

White has found a home in the rotation due to injuries to Walker Buehler (elbow) and Andrew Heaney (shoulder), and he’s been effective with a 2.22 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB over 28.1 innings in six appearances since May 26.

Why Bet on St. Louis?

Minor disadvantage in that the Cardinals had to play Monday night but it at least was home and thus no travel. Over the weekend, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols had his 1,377th extra-base hit, tying him with Stan Musial for third all-time. Pujols also hit into his 420th career double play, extending his major league record to the point where he now has a full 20% more than Cal Ripken Jr. in second place (350).

Outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Harrison Bader are both on the injured list but O’Neill could be activated at any time. He almost was last Friday but suffered a wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch in Triple-A. Though Bader is already expected to remain out through the All-Star break, whether he returns before the end of July will likely come down to a matter of pain tolerance while he plays through plantar fasciitis.

The Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt was chosen by the fans to start at first base for the National League in the 2022 Major League All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. It’s Goldy’s 7th All-Star selection and 3rd career starting assignment (also 2014-15). The 34-year-old becomes the first Cardinals first baseman to win a fan election since Pujols (2009-10), and the first NL first baseman to earn a start at the position for two different teams since Fred McGriff (SD – 1992, ATL – 1995-96).

Goldschmidt is one home run away from becoming the 6th player to hit home run No. 300 in a Cardinals uniform, joining Stan Musial (June 3, 1955 at Brooklyn), Gary Gaetti (June 23, 1996 at Montreal), Jim Edmonds (Sept. 4, 2004 vs. LA Dodgers), Albert Pujols (July 4, 2008 vs. Chicago Cubs), and Troy Glaus (Sept. 3, 2008 at Arizona).

Pujols also will be at the All-Star Game. It’s Albert’s 11th overall All-Star nod and 10th with the Cardinals (2001, 03-10, 22), which ties Enos Slaughter (1941-42, ‘46-53) and Yadier Molina (2009-15, 17-18, 21) for 4th-most all-time in franchise history.

Rookie lefty Matthews Liberatore (2-1, 4.74) is on the mound Tuesday. Liberatore held the Braves scoreless for four innings and struck out four in his start last Thursday. Liberatore showed his best velocity as a major leaguer, though the quick hook was probably part of that. Still, he averaged 94 mph with his fastball and 88 mph with his slider, which was up a full three mph from his previous efforts.

The rookie has held opponents scoreless three times through six starts in the big leagues and allowed at least four runs the other three times. At Triple-A, the 22-year-old had a 61:17 K:BB through 58 innings but since joining the Cardinals his control has suffered and he has a 22:14 K:BB in 24.2 innings.