Philadelphia Phillies vs
St. Louis CardinalsPredictions & Preview

Phillies Look to Take Series Lead Against Cardinals at Busch Stadium

The Philadelphia Phillies (8-3) will be looking to take the series lead as they visit Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals (5-7) in the first game of their three-game series at 7:15 PM ET on Friday night. Aaron Nola (0-2, 6.35 ERA) will start for the Phillies, while Andre Pallante (1-0, 3.86 ERA) will take the mound for the Cardinals. Philadelphia has a strong record of 7-3 in their last 10 games against St. Louis. The Phillies are the betting favorites at -130, with the line remaining stable.**Please note that this preview was written prior to Thursday's game.**

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -130 | Cardinals +118
• Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+125) | Cardinals +1.5 (-150)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Philadelphia will win straight-up is 57%.

Philadelphia vs St. Louis Stats

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have started the season strong with series wins over Washington, Colorado, and Los Angeles, leading the NL East with a half-game lead over the Mets. They will aim to continue their momentum in their upcoming game on Friday. Philadelphia has shown solid offensive performance, averaging 4.91 runs per game and holding a .265 batting average, ranking fourth in the league. They lead the league in on-base percentage with .358 but are sixth in slugging percentage at .429. Nick Castellanos leads the team with a .308 batting average, while Kyle Schwarber leads in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Phillies are giving up 3.55 runs per game, ranking 11th in the league. Opponents have a .236 batting average against them, ranked 17th. Their ERA is 3.58, ranking 11th, and WHIP is 1.22, ranking 12th. Despite a recent loss by Nola, who has a 2.56 ERA in 13 games against the Cardinals, the Phillies are performing well with an overall record of 8-3, placing them at 8th in offense, 7th in defense, and 11th in the league's power rankings.

St. Louis Cardinals Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to bounce back from a recent slump as they face the Philadelphia Phillies in an upcoming series. The Cardinals have been strong offensively, ranking third in the league with an average of six runs per game and boasting a .278 batting average and .351 on-base percentage, which are both second in the league. However, their pitching has struggled, giving up an average of 5.42 runs per game, which is the 30th in the league. Their current power ranking is 7, with a strong offense but a struggling defense. The Phillies have a standout player in Brendan Donovan with a .375 batting average, while Ivan Herrera leads the team in home runs and RBI. In their last matchup against the Cardinals, the Phillies went 1-2. The Cardinals will need their pitching staff, including Pallante, to step up and improve their performance to secure a series win against the Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies Hold Advantage Over Struggling St. Louis Cardinals in Latest Matchup

The Philadelphia Phillies have been performing well, winning six of their last eight games, whereas the St. Louis Cardinals have struggled, losing five of their last six games. Philadelphia holds a favorable position due to their strong hitting against right-handers and success against Pallante, who has struggled against them in recent matchups. Additionally, St. Louis has one of the weakest bullpens in the league, making it challenging for them to contain the Phillies' offense. Conversely, St. Louis has been facing offensive struggles and has struggled against Nola in previous meetings. Philadelphia's bullpen is performing well, indicating they can effectively contain St. Louis' offense. Considering these factors, it is recommended to bet on Philadelphia on the money line for this matchup.

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