Jun 3, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
- The St Louis Cardinals (28-31) look to avoid a 3-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros (28-34) on Wednesday afternoon in Houston.
- Miles Mikolas (3-6, 5.54 ERA) gets the start for the Redbirds, while Ronel Blanco (5-1, 2.44 ERA) will take the hill for Houston.
- Check out our top picks for the Wednesday afternoon showcase below.
The Houston Astros have dominated their former NL Central rivals this week, winning the first 2 games of the 3-game series 7-4 and 8-5. Can the Astros finish off the 3-game sweep this afternoon in Houston? First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET and the matchup can be seen on the MLB Network.
St Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Picks
- Astros -1.5 (+125)
- Yordan Alvarez over 1.5 total bases (-115)
The Astros have won each of the first 2 games of this series by 3 runs. Yordan Alvarez has been a big part of that success. In the first game on Monday, he had a home run and a double (that’s 6 total bases for those keeping track at home). He followed that up with a pair of singles on Tuesday night. He’s red-hot right now and Miles Mikolas doesn’t seem to be a good bet to slow him down. Yes, I’d like a little bit better odds than -115 for Alvarez to post 2+ bases today, but I’ll take what I can get.
Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco should once again be at his best against a Cardinals lineup that has been frustratingly bad this year. No one on the Cardinals’ roster has ever faced Blanco, which should work to his advantage. Expect St Louis to struggle offensively while Alvarez and the Astros power their way to another big win.
St Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Louis Cardinals | +1.5 (-150) | +140 | O 8.5 (-115) |
| Houston Astros | -1.5 (+125) | -165 | U 8.5 (-105) |
Odds via bet365 as of June 5. Use bet365 bonus code SBDXLM to get $150 in bonus bets when you place an initial $5 wager today.
The Cardinals are a +140 moneyline bet to win today’s game, while the Astros sport -165 odds. If you think the Cardinals can manage to avoid a third-straight multi-run loss to Houston, you can get -150 odds on that. If you think the Astros roll to another big win, like I do, the odds are +125. The run total is set at over/under 8.5, with -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
St Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Starting Pitchers
| Miles Mikolas | VS | Ronel Blanco |
|---|---|---|
| 3-6 | Record | 5-1 |
| 5.54 | ERA | 2.44 |
| 18.2% | SO% | 24.3% |
Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter earlier this year, and has been pretty steady ever since. There was a suspension in there that cost him a couple of weeks, and he allowed 4 earned runs in his last start, but overall, it has been a great season for the young Houston hurler.
Miles Mikolas, on the other hand, has had a pretty bad first couple of months to start the 2024 season. He’s given up multiple earned runs in all but 1 of his 12 starts this season, including allowing 3+ earned runs in 5 of his last 6 outings.
He hasn’t had much success against current Astros, either. They’re hitting .292 against him, collecting 14 hits (6 for extra bases) in 48 at-bats. The Cardinals need a win to stop their skid in the worst way, but Mikolas probably isn’t the best bet to make that happen.
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
The St. Louis Cardinals will face off against the Houston Astros on June 5 in what promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. Both teams have been performing well this season, with the Cardinals currently sitting in second place in the NL Central and the Astros leading the AL West.
When it comes to picks and predictions for this game, it’s always important to consider a variety of factors. Both teams have strong pitching staffs, with the Cardinals boasting a solid rotation led by Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright, while the Astros have a formidable lineup anchored by ace pitcher Justin Verlander.
In terms of offense, the Astros have been one of the most potent teams in the league this season, with players like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez leading the charge. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have relied on the consistent production of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado to drive their offense.
When it comes to player props, there are a few key players to keep an eye on in this matchup. For the Cardinals, look for Paul Goldschmidt to continue his hot streak at the plate and potentially hit a home run or two. On the Astros side, keep an eye on Jose Altuve, who has been hitting well recently and could be a key player in this game.
Overall, this matchup between the Cardinals and Astros is sure to be a close and competitive game. Both teams have strong pitching staffs and potent offenses, so it could come down to which team executes better on the day. Keep an eye on key players like Goldschmidt and Altuve, as they could be the difference-makers in this game. It’s sure to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams with a lot on the line.
