<p>The top two contenders in the NL Central commence their season series when the Brewers and Cardinals meet for the first of three in Milwaukee Friday night. Brandon Woodruff looks to run the Brewers' win streak to six here against Jack Flaherty for St. Louis.</p>
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<h2>MLB Betting Odds</h2>
<p>Friday's baseball betting lines opened Milwaukee and Woodruff at around -140 over St. Louis and Flaherty, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then steamed that line 30 cents to -170.</p>
<h2>Cardinals-Brewers MLB Betting Preview </h2>
<p>St. Louis just got swept three games at home by Atlanta earlier this week by scores of 8-4, 4-1, and 5-2. The Cardinals then had Thursday off to travel and stew.</p>
<p>St. Louis opened this new baseball betting season last weekend by taking two of three games at home from Toronto.</p>
<p>Last season the Cardinals won 93 games before falling to Philadelphia in the wild-card round of the playoffs. This season St. Louis is playing against a wins over/under of 89.5.</p>
<p>Milwaukee, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from the Mets by scores of 10-0, 9-0 and 7-6 in 10 innings. The Brewers then also had Thursday off, although they probably would have preferred to play.</p>
<p>Milwaukee opened this season last weekend by taking two of three games from the Cubs in Chicago.</p>
<p>Last year the Brewers won 86 games and missed the playoffs. This season Milwaukee is playing against a wins O/U of 84.5.</p>
<p>The Cardinals took the season series from the Brewers last year ten games to nine.</p>
<h2>Friday's Pitching Match-Up </h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/125810&quot; title="Brandon Woodruff Pitching Game Logs">Woodruff</a> is making his second start of this season Friday. Last Saturday he held the Cubs to one run and three hits through six innings, with one walk against eight strikeouts, in a 3-1 Milwaukee victory.</p>
<p>Last year Woodruff hit 14/27 on quality starts, as the Brewers played 19-8 with him.</p>
<p>Over three starts against St. Louis last season Woodruff allowed just two runs and 11 hits through 15 innings, with three walks against 16 whiffs. Milwaukee won two of those three games, and all three games played under on the totals.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/158773&quot; title="Jack Flaherty Pitching Stats">Flaherty</a> is also making his second start of this season. Last Saturday he tossed five innings of no-hit, no-run ball against Toronto, with seven walks, which is a bit crazy, against four strikeouts in a 4-1 Cardinals win.</p>
<p>Last year, limited by injuries, Flaherty hit just 1/8 on quality starts, although St. Louis played 5-3 with him.</p>
<p>Over his last three starts against the Brewers, one last year and two in 2021, Flaherty allowed four runs and 11 hits through 15 innings, with eight walks against 15 K's. St. Louis won two of those three games.</p>
<h2>Splits With the Sticks </h2>
<p>St. Louis batted .240 against right-handed pitching last season, with a .320 team OBP and a .407 team slugging percentage.</p>
<p>Milwaukee slashed .239/.318/.425 against right-handed pitching last season..</p>
<h2>The Bullpens </h2>
<p>The Brewers bullpen posted a 3.94 ERA last season, along with a 1.23 WHIP and a 2.90 K/BB ratio.</p>
<p>The Cardinals pen put up a 3.61 ERA last season, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 2.36 K/BB ratio.</p>
<h2>MLB Betting Trends </h2>
<p>St. Louis played 69-58 against right-handed starters last season.</p>
<p>Milwaukee played 58-51 against right-handed starters last year.</p>
<h2>Totals Report </h2>
<ul>
<li>The totals are split 3-3 in Cardinals games this season.</li>
<li>The Overs are 4-2 in Brewers games this season.</li>
<li>The Unders played 38-37 at American Family Field last season.</li>
<li>The Unders played 11-7 in Cardinals-Brewers games last season.</li>
</ul>