Los Angeles Angels vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, 5/4/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Angels vs St. Louis Cardinals

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023

Location: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (+150) St. Louis (-175)

The Los Angeles Angels (16-14) are on their way to Busch Stadium on Thursday where they will go up against the St. Louis Cardinals (10-20). The moneyline on this game has the Angels at +150 and the Cardinals are at -175. The total has been set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Griffin Canning and Jack Flaherty.

The Angels have hit 42 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 40 baseballs out of the park. Los Angeles is slugging .415 and have struck out 253 times, while being walked on 103 occasions. As a team, the Los Angeles Angels are putting up 5.1 runs per game, which ranks them 9th in the league. They have recorded 151 runs batted in and 254 hits so far this year, and their average at the plate sits at .251. They have tallied 153 runs and have an on-base percentage of .329.

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The Angels have a team ERA of 3.77 this year (11th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 259 batters. Angels pitchers have conceded 28 home runs in addition to 131 runs in total (14th in the league). They have walked 110 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 4.32 as a unit on the season. Los Angeles has allowed 221 base hits (7.5 per 9 innings) as well as 111 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.35 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.25.

Angels relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on 30 times and also have had 35 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 30 holds on the season (2nd in MLB). The Angels relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 61.1% and has stepped onto the mound in 48 save situations. They have recorded 11 saves this year and have blown 7 of 18 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 48 runners on the campaign with 43.8% of those runners crossed the plate. The Angels have sent 90 relievers to the hill on the season.

The Angels have turned 71.0% of balls in play into outs out of their 2,382 innings, which ranks them 6th in the majors. The Los Angeles Angels have accumulated 794 putouts this season, in addition to 250 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .983 which has them ranked 23rd in MLB, and they have turned 23 double plays.

Canning has taken the hill for 224 frames and has earned 229 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.69 (117 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.326. He has surrendered 212 hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) and has had 86 walks. Canning (13-13 career record) is the owner of a FIP of 4.66 while he has gone up against 961 hitters in the major leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals have an on-base percentage of .330 and a batting average of .258 on the season. They have been called out on strikes on 243 occasions (21st in the league) and have earned 264 hits. St. Louis has tallied 32 home runs so far this season as well as 120 runs batted in. The Cardinals have a team slugging percentage of .408 and they average 4.13 runs per contest (21st in the league). They have recorded 53 doubles, while taking a walk 105 times as well as scoring 124 runs.

The Cardinals hold a team WHIP of 1.447 and have a FIP of 4.32 as a staff on the season. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.40 (272 strikeouts vs 108 walks). They rank 25th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 270. They have given up 34 dingers and they concede 4.86 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league). The St. Louis pitching staff have allowed 141 runs this season while having an ERA of 4.48 (130 earned runs surrendered).

St. Louis relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.1% out of 61 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 27 times in high leverage situations in addition to 39 occasions with runners on. With 19 save situations, the Cardinals have compiled 10 holds in addition to 5 blown saves. They rank 27th in baseball with a save percentage of 44.4%, and they have sent 94 relievers onto the diamond so far this year. St. Louis has had relief pitchers enter the game in 9 save opportunities and they have come away with 4 saves.

In their 2,355 innings on the diamond, the Cardinals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 66.1% (27th in baseball). The St. Louis Cardinals have turned 28 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .987 (15th in pro baseball). The Cardinals have accrued 281 assists, 14 errors and have accounted for 785 putouts this season.

During his pro baseball career, Flaherty has conceded 417 base knocks while he has totaled 633 K's in 555 innings. He has allowed 212 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.127 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.03 and he has faced 2,277 hitters so far in his MLB career. Flaherty (36-28 career win-loss mark) has a 3.44 ERA while giving up 6.8 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take St. Louis (-175) and under 9 runs

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