St. Louis Cardinals vs LA Dodgers Prediction 5/1/26 MLB Picks Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Wednesday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Los Angeles Dodgers will send out Emmet Sheehan for the start here and Sheehan is 2-0 with a 4.78 ERA and 28 strikeouts this season. This will be Sheehan’s second career start against the Cardinals. St. Louis will send out Matthew Liberatore for the start here and is 0-1 with a 4.75 ERA and 19 strikeouts this season. This will be Liberatore’s second career start against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers come into this game looking to bounce back from their 3-2 loss at the hands of the Miami Marlins last time out to sit at 20-11 this season. After this series, the Dodgers will head on the road for a series against the Houston Astros.

Dodgers Drop Back-to-Back Games

Andy Pages has 36 hits with 7 doubles, 5 home runs and 25 RBIs while Teoscar Hernandez has 23 hits with 4 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs. Shohei Ohtani has 30 hits with 6 doubles, 6 home runs and 13 RBIs and Freddie Freeman has 30 hits with 7 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 15 RBIs this season. Will Smith has 3 home runs as well this season. Max Muncy’s added 29 hits with 3 doubles, 9 home runs and 11 RBIs and Kyle Tucker has 28 hits with 6 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 RBIs this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Recap

The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to build on their 10-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last time out to sit at 18-13 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will take on the Milwaukee Brewers at home.

Cardinals Win 4 In A Row

Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with 33 hits, 4 doubles, 9 home runs and 23 RBIs while Alec Burleson has 33 hits with 8 doubles, 4 home runs and 25 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has 30 hits with 7 home runs and 16 RBIs while Ivan Herrera has 27 hits with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. Nolan Gorman has 23 hits with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs this season. Masyn Winn’s added 25 hits with 5 doubles and 13 RBIs and Nathan Church has 20 hits with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends: May 1, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Matthew Liberatore      Record this season: 0-1      ERA: 4.75
• Home Record: 0-1
• Last 5 against Dodgers: 0-0

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Cardinals have won each of their last four games as underdogs.
• The Dodgers have lost five of their last six games as road favorites against NL Central opponents following a loss.
• The Cardinals have covered the run line each of their last six games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five night games against National League opponents.
• The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in each of their last four night games against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium.
• The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in each of their last four night games against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Emmet Sheehan      Record this season: 2-0      ERA: 4.78
• Road Record: 1-0
• Last 5 against Cardinals: 1-0

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Dodgers have won each of their last eight night games against the Cardinals following a loss.
• The Cardinals have lost each of their last four games against the Dodgers following a road win.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 home games against NL West opponents following a road win.
• The road team has covered the run line in each of the Cardinals’ last four games.
• The Dodgers have led after 3 innings in four of their last five night games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Dodgers have led after 5 innings in eight of their last nine night games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Cardinals’ last eight home games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Each of the Dodgers’ last three road games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Emmet Sheehan’s last six road appearances as a starter.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last five games as home underdogs against NL West opponents.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Nolan Gorman has hit at least one home run in two of his last three home appearances against the Dodgers after playing the previous day.
• Alec Burleson has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cardinals’ last seven games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Jordan Walker ranks T9th in the league in Home Runs (9) this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

• Freddie Freeman has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Cardinals after not playing the previous day.
• Will Smith has recorded at least one hit in each of the Dodgers’ last 13 night games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Max Muncy ranks 7th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.594) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cardinals rank 30th in the league for strikeouts this season (217).
• The Cardinals rank T27th in the league for triples this season (1).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for batting average this season (.273).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for slugging percentage this season (.452).

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction

I’m on the Dodgers in this one. I get the case to be made for the Cardinals as home dogs, but Liberatore in my eyes might be the weak link of the Cardinals rotation and I think the Dodgers are more than capable of taking advantage here. The Dodgers have hit lefties very well this season and in the end I think that proves to be the difference here. Give me Los Angeles.