The Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Sunday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. This will be the finale in a four-game series. After a split in the first two installments, on Saturday the Cardinals eked out a close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers were blown out 16-8 in the Thursday opener of this series, but bounced back for a 5-0 win on Friday. In game three LA showed some life in the ninth but ultimately fell 6-5. Noah Syndergaard put up 5.0 innings with three earned on four hits and a walk in the start.
For the starter job in the Sunday finale it’ll be Clayton Kershaw. Over his nine starts so far this year Kershaw is 6-3 with a 2.52 ERA and 63 Ks in 53.2 innings. Kershaw is 203-90 with a 2.48 ERA in 410 career games (407 starts).
St. Louis Cardinals
Over on the St. Louis side, they notched 12 team hits in the Thursday victory but couldn’t get anything going on Friday. In Saturday’s game the Cardinals blew an early 3-0 lead but ultimately held on for the win. Starter Miles Mikolas managed 7.0 innings with three earned on six hits.
It’ll be Jack Flaherty in the start for the Cards on Sunday. Across nine starts this year Flaherty is 3-4 with a 5.24 ERA and 49 Ks in 46.1 innings. Flaherty is 37-29 over his career with a 3.55 ERA in 111 games (107 starts).
The Dodgers are 52-21 in their last 73 versus the NL Central and 74-31 in their last 105 versus a right-handed starter. LA is 70-30 in their last 100 Sunday games.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 4-1 in their last five Sunday games and 42-18 in their last 60 versus a lefty starter. The over is 4-1 in St. Louis’ last five Sunday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stay with the Dodgers in this one. Kershaw is pitching reasonably well over his last two starts. In that pair he’s got three earned on 12 hits and a walk in 11.0 innings. As for Flaherty, he’s got three earned on 10 hits and seven walks in 12.0 innings over his last two. I like Flaherty to pitch well in an initially close game here. On Sunday the Dodgers had a bad eighth inning but otherwise may have completed the comeback. LA will need a better overall pitching performance in the finale but I think they’ll be fine.
