The Milwaukee Brewers (5-1, 3-0 home) and the St. Louis Cardinals (2-4, 0-0 away) begin a three-game series over the weekend. St. Louis hits the road for the first time this season, heading north for the National League Central series.
Friday’s first pitch is at 8:10 p.m. EST inside American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee (-170 moneyline) is the betting favorite, and the over/under run total is 8.5 runs.
What to Know – St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis will try to snap a three-game losing streak after the Atlanta Braves rolled into St. Louis and handed the Cardinals three-straight loses. The Cardinals were the preseason betting favorites to win the division but find themselves in last place through six games.
On the hill for St. Louis is expected to be right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). Flaherty was brilliant in his first start of the season, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out four in his 2023 debut.
The 27-year old was limited last season due to injury, appearing in only nine contests, with eight starts, posting a 2-1 record, 4.25 ERA, and 33 strikeouts over 36.0 innings.
The Cardinals lead the majors in team batting average, hitting .324 as team while scoring 4.8 runs per game.
St. Louis is tied with the Chicago Cubs for the least amount of strikeouts with only 38 K’s through six games.
Paul Goldschmidt leads the St. Louis lineup with a .450 batting average (9-for-20), and Nolan Gorman is right behind him hitting .438 (7-for-16). Gorman has driven in six runs thanks to a pair of home runs, while Nolan Arenado and rookie Jordan Walker have five RBIs apiece.
What to Know – Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are off to a hot start winning five of their first six games and sporting a perfect mark at home. Milwaukee has opened the season, winning two of three from the Cubs and sweeping the New York Mets.
Right-hander Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP) is the expected starter for the Brewers. The 30-year-old two-time All-Star didn’t factor into a decision in his first trip to the mound, surrendering one earned run over six innings, scattering three hits, and punching out eight. Woodruff was 13-4 in 2022 with a 3.05 ERA and 190 strikeouts over 153.1 innings.
The Brewers are sixth in the majors, hitting .281 as a team and driving in 6.3 runs per game. Milwaukee has scored seven or more runs in four-straight games.
Brian Anderson is leading the MLB with a robust .500 batting average (9-of-18) through six games. Anderson has swatted three home runs and driven in ten runs.
The Pick is In
The Cardinals aren’t this bad, and the Brewers aren’t this good. Two dominate pitchers toe the rubber and both teams have solid bullpens, but we give the offensive edge to the Cardinals. We find it hard to see St. Louis falling for the fourth game in a row.
The Pick: St. Louis Cardinals ML
