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Phillies vs. Cardinals Odds, Prediction, Picks (April 26, 2021)

By Crossing Broad Staff

Published: Apr 26th, 2021 · 12:09 PM EDT

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The Phillies open a four-game series in St. Louis losers in seven of nine road games this season. They will send Zack Wheeler (1-2, 3.80 ERA) to the mound tonight in the hopes that the right-hander can help rinse away the taste of a mostly bitter weekend in Colorado. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who will throw Adam Wainwright (0-2, 5.03 ERA), are looking to keep things going following a weekend sweep of the Reds.

Let’s take a look at the Phillies vs. Cardinals odds for the opener of a four-game set and make a game prediction along with some betting picks for this April 26, 2021 contest.

Phillies vs. Cardinals Odds

Here is a look at the current Phillies vs. Cardinals odds, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook:

Team	Run Line	Moneyline	Total
Yankees	-1.5 (+125)	-132	O 9 (-110)
Phillies	+1.5 (-148)	+114	U 9 (-110)

Click here to get 100-1 odds on any MLB team to record 1+ hit in any game during the month of April at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Phillies vs. Cardinals Prediction

After a humbling blowout loss to the Rockies yesterday, the Phillies will have to pick themselves up for another road game tonight in St. Louis. They will send Wheeler to the hill to try to get back to even on this road trip and take a step towards winning their first road series since last August.

The Right Guy at the Right Time

Wheeler gives the Phils a good chance to be successful here, as he has a 3.80 ERA thus far this April, but, perhaps more importantly, he possesses the ability to pitch deep into games. He averages six innings per start this season, throwing at least 90 pitches in all four outings. Anything that minimizes the impact of the Philadelphia bullpen has to be considered a positive right now.

One benefit of yesterday’s rout is that the Phillies were able to give their best arms in the pen a rest and should have them all available to get to the finish line if Wheeler gives them at least six innings tonight.

The Phillies righty hasn’t had great success in terms of batting average against versus current Cards, but he has kept them mostly in the yard except for Paul DeJong. Of course, Wheeler is coming off a rare game in which he was burned by long ball:

Zack Wheeler's first 14 starts with the Phillies: 363 batters faced, four homers allowed

Tonight: 24 batters faced, three homers allowed

Baseball is weird.

— Bob Wankel (@Bob_Wankel) April 21, 2021

Another bonus could come in the form of a possible Yadier Molina absence for St. Louis tonight. Molina is 3-for-8 lifetime off Wheeler and is hitting .339 with five home runs in 2021. However, the team’s leader in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in could sit out again tonight with a lingering injury to his right foot.

A History of Success

St. Louis will send Wainwright to the mound for this one, a guy they have faced 16 times throughout his career. He is 7-3 lifetime against the Phils with a 3.10 ERA and has only allowed five home runs in 93 career innings. Six of his last 10 starts against Philadelphia have produced seven total combined runs or less, averaging 7.5 total runs per game across that span.

 

 

Wainwright has also seen eight of his last 10 starts overall total six runs or less for an average of just 7.4 runs per game in that stretch. He has been a significantly better pitcher at home throughout his career, boasting a 2.87 ERA on his own bump against a 3.99 ERA on the road. Like Wheeler versus these Cards, current Phillies have hit for average against Wainwright, but lack any real pop, with just three home runs in 120 collective at-bats against the righty.

St. Louis enters off their sweep of the Reds and have played just two overs after a win all season, averaging a combined  6.8 total runs per game in those spots. The Cardinals average just 4.25 runs per nine innings here at home, while the Phillies are scoring just 3.22 runs per game on the road.

The Phillies have played five of their last six road games against winning teams under the posted number. They’ve also played under in four of their last five games as road favorites, which they are currently listed as for tonight’s affair.

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Interestingly, the Cardinals have played six of their last seven games as underdogs under the number, as well as 20 of their last 28 as home dogs. The Cards, who won 5-2 over Cincinnati yesterday, have not played an over in any of their last four games after scoring five or more, nor have they following their last four games after allowing two runs or less

Additionally, they have played just three of their last 11 home games over the total against sub .500 teams.

Look for tonight to make it six straight games played for St. Louis after a win without any going Over the total.

Phillies vs.  Cardinals Betting Pick

Look for tonight to make it six straight games played for St. Louis after a win without going over the total.

Phillies vs. Cardinals Pick: UNDER 8 runs

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