MLB Astros vs. Cardinals Odds and Prediction

If the St. Louis Cardinals don’t turn things around sooner rather than later, they could put Miles Mikolas, among others, on the trade block.

Mikolas takes the mound Wednesday at home as a short underdog on the MLB betting lines against Houston.

Astros vs. Cardinals Odds and Betting Prediction | MyBookie Regular Season Baseball Preview

Opening MLB Lines: Astros -107, Cardinals -103 / O/U Total 8.5
Probable pitchers (away/home): Cristian Javier/Miles Mikolas

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 7:45 pm ET
Busch Stadium | St. Louis, Missouri

Why Bet on Houston?

This is Houston’s first series in St. Louis since 2019. Monitor the status of Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve as he has missed a few games of late with an oblique injury. It’s a bit unclear whether he’ll require a second trip to the injured list this year or the Houston Astros want to wait a couple extra days before making a decision. Altuve recently played in his 1,600th career game, becoming the 4th player in club history to reach that number. He should reach 2,000 career hits and 200 career homers this season and already has reached 1,000 career runs in 2023.

Altuve now has 35 career 4-hit games. That has surpassed Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio (34g) for the most in Astros franchise history. His 35 games with 4+ hits are the second most of active players, trailing only Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (48). Altuve’s seven grand slams are tied for the most in Astros history. He missed the team’s first 43 games due to a right thumb fracture suffered after being hit by a pitch during the World Baseball Classic. Houston has six slams this year, second in the majors. The franchise record Baggio for slams in a season is 11, set in 2019.

The team also remains without slugger and MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez until after the All-Star break with his own oblique issue. Outfielder Michael Brantley has yet to play in 20223 due to right shoulder surgery.

It’s Cristian Javier (7-1) on the mound. Javier didn’t factor into the decision in last Wednesday’s 10-8 win over the Mets, surrendering four runs on four hits and five walks over 2.1 innings. He struck out one. Javier needed 82 pitches (45 strikes) to record seven outs and issued a career-high five free passes, but the Houston offense quickly bailed him out. Javier’s ability to keep the ball in the park has been his saving grace of late as has a 13:11 K:BB over his last five starts and 24.1 innings, but just a 3.70 ERA thanks to serving up only one homer.

On the year, his strikeout rate is 22.9%, a nearly 10% decline from the past two seasons. Whereas he had a whiff rate in the 82nd percentile last season, it is now in the 57th percentile. Of his primary two pitches — four-seam fastball and slider — both have declined in terms of whiffs, down from 27.3% and 39.4% in 2022 to 25.8% and 30.3% this season.

This will be Javier’s first-ever start against the Cardinals. Nolan Arenado has faced him, though, going 1-for-2 with a solo homer while with Colorado.

Why Bet on St. Louis?

The St. Louis Cardinals are annual playoff contenders but have clinched a losing June and have not posted a winning record in the month of June in six of their last seven seasons (15-14 June record in 2022). St. Louis has spent 63 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule. It’s the Cardinals’ slowest start since beginning 29-47 (.382) in 1978.

The team remains without closer Ryan Helsley and he’s not close to an activation as Helsley deals with a forearm issue. The 28-year-old was shut down from throwing for 10 days after landing on the injured list with a forearm strain June 12, and he’ll need some time to build his arm back up after the shutdown period. A return after the All-Star break in mid-July still appears possible for Helsley. Jordan Hicks has stepped in as St. Louis’ primary closer in the interim.

Jordan Walker, Albert Pujols (three in 2001), and Rogers Hornsby (two in 1916) are the only three Cardinals age 21 or younger with multiple double-digit game hitting streaks in the same season. Walker hit safely in 33-of-38 games with a PA this season, with his 42 career hits coming off 40 different pitchers from all 14 opponents he’s played against.

It’s Miles Mikolas on the mound. Mikolas (4-5) took the loss last Wednesday, giving up two runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings as the Cardinals were blanked 3-0 by the Nationals. He struck out three. Mikolas took a comebacker from CJ Abrams off his lower right leg with two outs in the seventh but finished the inning. He allowed two runs on eight hits but lost his fourth consecutive start.

The veteran righty rebounded from a couple shaky outings to deliver his sixth quality start of the season, but he got no help from his offense as he fell to 0-4 in June. After posting a 1.89 ERA in May, Mikolas has stumbled to a 5.63 ERA through 24 innings this month. He carries a respectable 4.23 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 66/19 K/BB ratio across 93 2/3 innings (16 starts) into Houston.

Mikolas is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in two career starts vs. Houston but only two active Astros have faced him: Jose Abreu is 0-for-3 and Jose Altuve is 1-for-6.

MLB Pick: Astros | Bet Astros vs. Cardinals Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Games

Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Betting Trends for Game

Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Astros are 2-7 in their last 9 road games.
Cardinals are 2-6 in their last 8 interleague home games.
Cardinals are 2-11 in their last 13 vs. American League West.
Astros are 6-16 in the last 22 meetings.
Taillon has faced the Phillies six times in his career and is 1-3 with an 8.59 ERA. Bryce Harper is 4-for-10 off him with a double.

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