Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions

The Los Angeles Dodgers (28-16) and St. Louis Cardinals (18-26) meet Thursday to kick off a 4-game series. First pitch from Busch Stadium is set for 7:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Dodgers vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Dodgers lead 3-0

Los Angeles won 7-3 Wednesday as a -130 home favorite vs. the Minnesota Twins. The Dodgers took the lead with a 7th-inning grand slam from OF James Outman. Los Angeles has won 7 of its last 8 games.

St. Louis won 3-0 Wednesday as a -114 home favorite vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. LHP Matthew Liberatore pitched 5 scoreless innings with 6 K’s to lead St. Louis to the 5th win in its last 6 games.

Dodgers at Cardinals projected starters

LHP Julio Urias vs. RHP Adam Wainwright

Urias (5-3, 3.61 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.07 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 through 52 1/3 IP.

• Last outing: Win, 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K, in a 4-2 home win Saturday vs. San Diego Padres
• First career start vs. St. Louis

Wainwright (0-0, 7.20 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 1.70 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 6.3 K/9 through 10 IP.

• Last outing: No-decision, 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, in an 8-6 road win Friday vs. Boston Red Sox
• Career vs. Dodgers: 7-6 with a 2.79 ERA (106 1/3 IP, 33 ER), 95 H, 6 HR, 35 BB and 80 K across 16 starts and 3 relief appearances

Dodgers at Cardinals odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:11 a.m. ET.

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Dodgers at Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 2

BET DODGERS (-150).

The Dodgers are 5-0 in their last 5 meetings with the Cardinals and Los Angeles is 12-1 in Urias’ last 13 Thursday starts. Both teams are 8-2 in their last 10 games but the Dodgers swept the Cardinals in their earlier season series, proving they have no problem beating this St. Louis team.

LEAN DODGERS -1.5 (+110).

Only 3 of the last 10 matchups between these clubs have finished with a 1-run margin as the Dodgers have dominated the Cardinals as of late. None of the Dodgers’ last 10 meetings overall finished with a 1-run margin and only 2 of St. Louis’ last 10 finished within a single run.

Figure out how much overall you want to wager on LA — I suggest no more than 1 1/2 units — and divvy it up between the moneyline and the run line plays with at least 1 full unit on the ML.

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LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-105).

The Under is 6-0 in Los Angeles’ last 6 games vs. a pitcher with a WHIP greater than 1.30 and the Under is 6-4 in their last 10 overall. The Under is also 5-5 in the last 10 meetings between these clubs.

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