Cardinals vs Guardians Predictions, Picks, Odds: Midwest Misfire

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians play the middle contest of a 3-game interleague set at Progressive Field on Saturday evening. 

The Cardinals were tripped up 4-3 in the series opener Friday, as St. Louis had few answers for RHP Shane Bieber. St. Louis has alternated losses and wins in the past six games overall.

The Guardians halted a two-game losing streak at home, and the win was just the second in the past seven games overall for Cleveland.

Can the Cardinals fly past Cleveland at Progressive Field, or will the home team guard its home field successfully for a second consecutive evening? We’ll discuss in our MLB picks and predictions for Cardinals vs. Guardians on Saturday, May 27.

Cardinals vs Guardians odds

Cardinals vs Guardians predictions

The Cardinals have been consistently inconsistent lately, alternating losses and wins in the past six games, while going just 6-5 across the past 11 games overall.

St. Louis has had some difficulty cobbling together offense, too, totaling just eight runs across the past three games, or just 2.7 runs per outing.

The good news is that the Cardinals have managed to get untracked in the pitching department in the past two games. St. Louis has allowed a total of just five runs in the past two games after allowing five or more runs in seven straight outings from May 18-24.

The Guardians haven’t exactly been a model of consistency lately, either. In fact, Cleveland enters with just 22 wins across the first 50 games, while going a dismal 3-7 in the past 10 games dating back to May 16.

Cleveland has really scuffled collectively at the dish, totaling just 14 runs in the past six outings, or 2.3 runs per game (RPG). It’s no surprise the Under is 5-0 in the past five outings, as the Guardians pitchers have given them a chance to win with just 15 runs allowed during the span.

We get a pitching matchup of RHP Jack Flaherty and rookie RHP Tanner Bibee in The Land on Saturday. 

Flaherty was bounced around for 10 runs in just 2 1/3 innings in his most recent interleague game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 4. However, he has pulled it together somewhat, allowing just six runs across 16 2/3 frames in his past three starts.

For Bibee, the California righty has yielded just nine runs across 22 2/3 innings in four May starts, good for a respectable 3.57 ERA, and he hasn’t allowed a homer in his past three outings.

With a stiff 9-12 mph wind blowing in from center field into the face of the batters, two pitchers doing a decent job lately, and two offenses struggling to plate runs, the Under is the best play on the board Saturday night in C-Town.

My best bet: Under 8.5 (-108 BetRivers)

Cardinals vs Guardians moneyline analysis

The Cardinals have bounced back nicely after a loss, going 6-0 in the past six outings following a setback. They’ve also handled right-handed starting pitchers well, going 9-3 in the past 12 encounters.

In addition, St. Louis is 11-5 in the past 16 against the American League Central Division, while going 4-1 in the past five interleague games.

For the Guardians, they’re just 6-14 in the past 20 interleague games at home, while cashing in just four of the past 15 Game 2s. In addition, Cleveland has been unable to stack wins, going just 1-5 in the past six outings following a victory.

With Cleveland also just 1-5 in the past six tries against a right-handed starting pitcher, it’s a good idea to back St. Louis, and at some shops like BetRivers, you can catch the Cards at plus-money, while they’re offered at even money at many others.

Cardinals vs Guardians Over/Under analysis

The Cardinals have helped total bettors go high cash plenty of tickets lately. The pitching has been abhorrent, although St. Louis has been better in the past two games.

Still, betting the Under in St. Louis games takes a bit of a leap of faith. Against Cleveland, though, it might be the perfect opponent for the Cardinals to snap back into form. The Guardians have struggled to score all season, totaling just 173 runs, worst in the majors, even behind the lowly Oakland Athletics.

The Guardians have cashed the Under at a healthy 11-1 clip in the past 12 games at home against a right-handed starting pitcher, while going 4-0 in the past four interleague home outings.

And again, the wind will be blowing in stiffly from Lake Erie, across downtown, right into the face of the batters. Go low.

Cardinals vs Guardians game info

Starting pitchers

Jack Flaherty (3-4, 5.29 ERA): The Cardinals righty has struggled overall this season, posting a 5.29 ERA across 51 innings over 10 starts. However, he has been better on the road, posting a 4.50 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 26 innings. He has allowed just six homers, too, and that shouldn’t be a problem against the toothless Cleveland offense Saturday.

Tanner Bibee (1-1, 3.18 ERA): The rook has managed to keep the ball in the yard lately, allowing zero homers in the past three games. He has posted back-to-back quality starts since getting tuned up by the Detroit Tigers on May 8, too. Bibee has struggled with his control, issuing eight walks in the past three outings, but he has limited the damage with just seven runs allowed during the span.

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Under is 11-1 in Guardians' last 12 home games vs. RHPs. Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Guardians

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