<p>
The Dodgers own a huge lead in their divisional playoff race while the Cardinals own a short lead in the NL wild-card race, heading into the opener of a three-game series at Chavez Ravine. Which way are we going here for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
Monday's MLB betting odds opened LA at around -170 over St. Louis, with an over/under of nine runs. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
</p>
<p>
The Dodgers could also be found getting around +120 giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
</p>
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<h2>
Cardinals vs. Dodgers Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
St. Louis just got swept two games in Oakland over the weekend by scores of 8-3 and 4-2. Just before that, the Cardinals took two of three games at home from the Cubs, but just before that they lost two of three at home to Houston. So St. Louis is 1-2 over its last three series and 2-5 over its last seven games.
</p>
<p>
At 58-52 overall the Cardinals trail division-leading Chicago by a game and a half in the NL Central, but they also lead the National League wild-card race by a half-game over Washington and Philadelphia.
</p>
<p>
Los Angeles, meanwhile, just took three of four games at home from San Diego, coming from behind to win Sunday 11-10. Just before that, the Dodgers took two of three at Colorado, and just before that they took two of three at Washington. So LA is 3-0 over its last three series and 7-3 over its last ten games.
</p>
<p>
At 74-40 overall the Dodgers lead the NL West by 17 games over Arizona and San Francisco, and they're 7.5 games up on Atlanta in the battle for the best record in the National League.
</p>
<p>
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; back in April, the Cardinals swept four games from the Dodgers at Busch Stadium.
</p>
<h2>
Monday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/281148&quot; title="Tony Gonsolin Pitching Logs">Rookie righty Gonsolin</a> will be making this third career ML appearance Monday night. Just over a month ago, in his ML debut, he gave up six runs – four earned – over four innings of an 8-2 Los Angeles loss to the Diamondbacks. He then went back down to the Minors, but came back last week and held the Rockies to one run through four innings of relief.
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<p>
So through his first eight innings in the Majors Gonsolin has allowed five ER and nine hits, although he's also allowed just one home run and he hasn't walked anyone yet.
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<p>
Earlier this summer Gonsolin went 1-4 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP through 36 1/3 innings down at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/48251&quot; title="Micheal Wacha Pitching Logs">Wacha</a>, according to our stringent standards, is 5/14 on quality starts this year, to go along with appearances out of the bullpen. Nine days ago he limited the Astros to one run and six hits through 4 2/3 innings of relief work. And over his last three appearances, he's allowed just two runs and 12 hits through 9 1/3 innings.
</p>
<p>
The Cardinals are 7-7 when Wacha starts this year.
</p>
<p>
In his one appearance this season against the Dodgers this season Wacha got popped for seven runs and eight hits, including three dingers, through just 3 2/3 innings of a game St. Louis eventually won 11-7.
</p>
<h2>
Monday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
St. Louis is batting .244/.315/.404 against right-handed pitching this season. But this unit has also been held to three runs or less six times in its last seven games.
</p>
<p>
Los Angeles is batting .263/.345/.482 against RH pitching this season, which helps this lineup rank among the top five in the Majors in this split.
</p>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Cardinals bullpen owns a 3.83 ERA this season and an ML-best 1.18 WHIP while allowing an ML-low .668 OPS.
</p>
<p>
The Dodgers pen owns a 4.04 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP while allowing a .698 OPS.
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<p>
Both these units rank among the top half-dozen bullpens in Baseball.
</p>
<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Unders are 46-58 in Cardinals games this season.
</li>
<li>
Overs are 55-54 in Dodgers games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 27-26 in games played at Dodger Stadium this season.
</li>
</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1081643">Cardinals at Dodgers MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>