In this article, we will formulate a Cardinals vs Twins prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, March 29th, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
The St. Louis Cardinals are 1-0 this year after they defeated the Twins by a score of 5-3 in their first game. St. Louis scored in each of the first three innings, and they were able to add an insurance run in the eighth to secure the victory. The Cardinals recorded 10 hits in the game, but they only drew two walks. Nootbaar went 2-4 with one home run and two RBIs in the game, while Donovan, Arenado, and Herrera added two hits and one RBI each. Sonny Gray started on the mound for St. Louis, and he allowed four hits and two earned runs over five innings of work, while Helsley struck out three batters in the ninth inning for the save.
Last year, the St. Louis pitching staff had a 4.04 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and a .249 opponent batting average, while the offense scored 672 runs with a .248 batting average and a .312 on-base percentage. The Cardinals were ranked 22nd in the MLB in runs scored last season and need to find more consistent hitting this year. St. Louis was led by Paul Goldschmidt last season, but he is no longer with the team, while Alec Burleson hit .269 with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for St. Louis is Erick Fedde, who went 2-5 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 55.2 innings for the Cardinals last year. After this series, the Cardinals will meet the Angels and Red Sox.
Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
The Minnesota Twins are 0-1 this season after they lost to St. Louis in their first game of the season on Thursday. Minnesota allowed runs in the first three innings, but they did score three runs in the fifth/sixth innings but couldn’t find any more offense in the loss. The Twins recorded eight hits in the game but did commit one error. Larnach went 2-3 with one walk in the game, while Bader had two RBIs, and Castro added one RBI. Pablo Lopez started for the Twins in game one of the series, and he allowed eight hits and two earned runs over 5.0 innings pitched, while Jax allowed one hit and one earned run over 0.2 innings late in the game.
Last season, the Minnesota pitching staff had a 4.26 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP and a .242 opponent batting average, while their offense scored 742 runs with a .246 batting average and a .315 on-base percentage. Minnesota was 10th in the MLB in runs scored last year, but just 21st in team ERA. The Twins were led by Carlos Santana last season, but he is no longer on the team, while Ryan Jeffers hit .226 with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Minnesota is Joe Ryan, who went 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 135.0 innings pitched for the Twins last year. After this series, the Twins will head to the South Side to take on the Chicago White Sox.
Why the Cardinals will beat the Twins
- The Twins have lost eight of their last nine games as favorites.
- The underdogs have won each of the Twins’ last five games.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as underdogs.
- The Twins have failed to cover the run line in 12 of their last 13 games as road favorites.
- The Twins have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games against National League opponents.
- The Twins have lost the first inning in each of their last three games against National League opponents.
- The Twins have trailed after 5 innings in nine of their last 10 games.
Why the Twins will beat the Cardinals
- The Cardinals have lost each of their last four home games against the Twins following a home win.
- The Twins have won each of their last four games against the Cardinals following a road loss.
- The Twins have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 day games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five day games against AL Central opponents following a home win.
- The Twins have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games at Busch Stadium against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Twins have led after 3 innings in each of their last five day games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Twins’ last six road games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Four of the Cardinals’ last five games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 10 of the Cardinals’ last 11 home games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in four of the Twins’ last five games at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Lars Nootbaar has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with the Cardinals as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Masyn Winn has recorded a Double in four of his last five appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Erick Fedde has recorded a win in each of his last three home appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Cardinals’ last five home games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Masyn Winn has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances.
- Erick Fedde has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his three previous appearances with his team as an underdog against the Twins.
- Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cardinals’ last eight games against AL Central opponents.
- Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one hit in each of his nine previous appearances with his team as an underdog against the Twins.
- Ivan Herrera ranks T4th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.667) this season.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Jose Miranda has hit a home run in each of his two previous appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a winning record.
- Harrison Bader has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five road appearances against former teams.
- Ryan Jeffers has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six road appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Willi Castro has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Trevor Larnach has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Joe Ryan has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last 11 appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Byron Buxton has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances in day games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Trevor Larnach ranks T4th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.667) this season.
Cardinals vs Twins Prediction
Minnesota comes into this matchup looking to grab their first win of the season, but they will need to put together a better offensive performance here. The Twins had a strong offense in 2024, but they struggled in game one of the series and will face Fedde in this game, who was solid for St. Louis in limited work last year. Minnesota is starting Joe Ryan, who had a 0.99 WHIP in 2024, so we could be in for a low-scoring battle. Take the under in this matchup.