The Los Angeles Dodgers won over 100 games but still ended up in the Wild Card game in the National League. Their path to a repeat starts with their October nemesis, the St. Louis Cardinals, who used a 17-game win streak to return to the playoffs. The Wild Card game is set for 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, and it will be televised on TBS.
These teams have met in October five times since 1985, and the Cardinals have won four series; the only exception was the 2009 NLDS. St. Louis enjoyed back-to-back seasons of eliminating the Dodgers in 2013 and 2014. The Dodgers have never played in a winner-take-all one game Wild Card while the Cardinals won their only appearance in 2012.
Wainwright Looking To Extend Dream Season
The Cardinals flipped a switch in September, winning 17 straight games to slingshot past the Phillies, Padres, and Reds and into the Wild Card game. Moving outfielder Tyler O’Neill into the cleanup spot behind Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado was the catalyst. Those three sluggers combined for 99 home runs on the season, and each had at least 80 RBI.
On the mound, the Cardinals turn to 40-year-old Adam Wainwright, who turned in one of his best seasons. At 17-7 with a 3.05 ERA, Wainwright finished among the NL leaders in wins, innings, starts, complete games, WHIP, and strikeouts.
Wainwright has been through the playoff ringer before, going 28-15 with a 2.89 ERA in his career in October. He beat the Dodgers in September, allowing four runs on seven hits over 8 ⅓ innings, with three of those runs scoring in the top of the ninth.
The Cardinals’ offense carried them through the winning streak with contributions up and down the lineup. Rookie Dylan Carlson, leadoff man Tommy Edman, and veteran catcher Yadier Molina all delivered big hits to keep the streak going.
Can Scherzer Turn Things Around?
The Dodgers picked up Max Scherzer at the deadline for a start just like this. He was a Cy Young contender as he went nine straight starts of allowing two runs or less. However, in his last two starts, Scherzer allowed ten runs over 10 ⅓ innings as he surrendered three home runs and 17 hits.
Scherzer beat the Cardinals on September 6 with a season-high 13 strikeouts over eight innings. He allowed six hits and one unearned run. While with Washington, he also blanked the Cardinals 1-0 earlier this season with nine strikeouts over six innings.
The Dodgers potent lineup suffered a blow as they lost the first baseman Max Muncy to an injury for the Wild Card game. Trea Turner is an MVP candidate, serving at the top of the Dodgers lineup since being acquired with Scherzer in July. Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, Will Smith, and Corey Seager are all playoff-tested, and Cardinals legend Albert Pujols could get the chance to beat his former team.
Betting Analysis
- St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 run line (-115). +185 Money Line
- Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 run line (+105). -225 Money Line
- Total Runs: 7.5. Over -110. Under -110
The Dodgers were 4-3 against the Cardinals this season, and both veteran pitchers are playoff-tested. This game could come down to the bullpen, and no team in the Majors allowed less inherited runners to score this season than the Dodgers. St. Louis doesn’t have a playoff-tested bullpen, and that could be their undoing.
Betting Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (+105)
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