Is this Giants vs Cardinals series a preview of things to come in October? Both fanbases certainly hope so, and the expansion to a 12-team playoff improves the chances of both teams getting in.
Of course, we are only about one-fifth of the way through this MLB season, and a lot can happen in the next four months. Still, Fangraphs currently gives the Giants a 74 percent chance to make the playoffs, compared with just 37 percent for the Cardinals.
In reality, both of these clubs will probably compete for an NL Wild Card spot, meaning head-to-head matchups (such as Sunday’s marquee tilt) will go a long way in deciding which team will be playing in October.
Props.com breaks down Giants vs Cardinals odds for Sunday Night Baseball.
Odds via DraftKings as of 1 p.m. ET on May 15.
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San Francisco Giants (20-13) vs St. Louis Cardinals (18-15)
First pitch/TV: 7:08 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Giants -140/Cardinals +120
Runline: Giants -1.5 (+130)/Cardinals +1.5 (-150)
Total: 7 (Over -110/Under -110)
Pitching matchup: LHP Carlos Rodon (4-1, 1.80 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) vs RHP Adam Wainwright (3-3, 3.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP)
Season series: Tied 3-3, after the Cardinals won 4-0 on Saturday.
Did you know: Dating to July 2021, the underdog has won eight of the last 11 meetings between the Giants and Cardinals.
About the Giants
Hits & Misses: The Giants are currently in a logjam atop the NL West, sitting a half-game behind the Dodgers and Padres, who share the division lead. San Francisco had a six-game win streak heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Cardinals, but St. Louis snapped the streak with a 4-0 victory. That setback aside, the Giants are getting the job done largely by out-slugging their opponents. Prior to Saturday’s shutout, San Francisco scored eight-plus runs in five of its last six games. Overall, the Giants rank fifth in runs scored (163) and eighth in team batting average (.245).
Carlos Rodon vs Cardinals: The Giants signed Rodon to a two-year, $44 million deal in the offseason, and the left-handed tosser has been worth every penny up to this point. In six starts with the Giants, Rodon has a 1.80 ERA with a strikeout rate — 13.6 Ks per nine innings) — that ranks second among qualified starters. To be frank, Rodon appears to be one of the better left-handed pitchers in MLB at the moment. The last time Rodon faced the Cardinals was nearly a year ago (May 26, 2021) as a member of the White Sox. The southpaw allowed just one earned run across six innings, with 10 strikeouts in that game. Rodon has allowed just a .101 average (4-for-31) to active St. Louis hitters over his career.
Key injuries: 2B Tommy La Stella (Achilles), as well as relievers Jake McGee (back) and Matthew Boyd (elbow), will continue to miss time for San Francisco.
About the Cardinals
Hits & Misses: The NL Central is shaping up to be a two-team race between Milwaukee and St. Louis. The Cardinals currently trail the Brewers by 2.5 games. St. Louis has won just two of its last seven games, which includes dropping three of its last four against the Giants. Sandwiched between two series with San Francisco, the Cardinals disappointed by losing two of three at home to Baltimore. St. Louis ranks 15th in runs scored (142) and 11th in batting average (.240). The Cards also have one of the lowest strikeout rates in baseball at 19.7 percent. St. Louis has had a decent bullpen so far, holding the fifth-lowest ERA (3.17) among relief pitchers.
Adam Wainwright vs Giants: The Cardinals’ starting rotation ranks middle-of-the-pack with a 3.65 ERA. Wainwright has been a solid contributor within that, sporting a 3.18 ERA, with 28 strikeouts across 34 innings. Wainwright is coming off the 10-day injured list (COVID-19) to make this start. The 40-year-old righty was sharp in his last start, allowing just one hit across seven scoreless innings against the Royals on May 5. Wainwright is 8-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 17 starts (19 games) against the Giants. In two starts against San Francisco last season, Wainwright allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs across 11 innings pitched.
Key injuries: RP Alex Reyes (shoulder) is on the 60-day injured list. CF Harrison Bader (heel) is probable to play on Sunday night.
Notable Trends
- SF is 6-1 in its last seven against a team with a winning record
- SF is 8-3 in its last 11 against the NL Central
- Over is 10-4 in the last 14 games for SF (4-1 last five)
- STL is 16-5 in its last 21 against left-handed starters
- Over is 4-1 in last five with STL a home underdog
Giants vs Cardinals Odds and Action
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: DraftKings opened San Francisco a -130 favorite, with St. Louis +110 in the Giants vs Cardinals odds market. San Fran stretched as high as -155 this morning, but has since receded to -140, with the St. Louis +120. Early ticket count is 2/1 on the Giants, but money is actually two-way with a slight lean toward the Cardinals.
The total opened at 6.5 (Over -120) and moved up to 7 flat Saturday night on the way to 7 (Over -120) midmorning today. It’s now at 7 (Over -115), with tickets and money in the 2/1 range on the Over.
