Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, 5/1/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals

Date: Friday, May 1, 2026

Location: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO

TV: Cardinals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (-150) St. Louis (+125)

The St. Louis Cardinals (17-13) will play the Los Angeles Dodgers (20-11) at Busch Stadium on Friday. The odds on this game have Los Angeles at -150 and St. Louis is sitting at +125. The over/under is set at 8. The starting pitchers will be Emmet Sheehan and Matthew Liberatore.

As a team, the Los Angeles Dodgers are compiling 5.4 runs per outing, which is 4th in the league. They have accounted for 167 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .350. The Dodgers have accrued 51 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 45 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accumulated 159 RBI's and 286 hits for the year, and their team batting average is at .273. Los Angeles is slugging .452 and have been called out on strikes 249 times, while taking a walk on 122 occasions.

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The Dodgers hold a team earned run average of 3.19 so far this year (3rd in MLB), and their staff has rung up 277 batters. Dodgers pitchers have yielded 27 home runs in addition to 101 runs (1st in the league). They have walked 97 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 3.57 as a unit over the course of the season. Los Angeles has allowed 210 hits (6.9 per 9 innings) in addition to 97 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.86 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.12.

Dodgers pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 18 times and also have had 30 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have earned 16 holds for the year (18th in the league). The Dodgers bullpen have compiled a save rate of 58.3% and have entered the game in 28 save situations. They have tallied 7 saves this season and have missed out on 5 out of their 12 chances to get a save. The relief pitchers have inherited 32 base runners so far this year with 25.0% of them earned a run for their team. The Dodgers have sent 94 relievers to the mound on the campaign.

The Dodgers have turned 73.1% of balls in play into outs out of their 2,466 innings on the field, ranking them 2nd in the majors. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a tally of 822 putouts this season, as well as 256 assists and 10 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .991 which puts them in 4th in professional baseball, and they have turned 20 double plays.

Sheehan (12-4 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.90 and he has gone up against 649 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. He has conceded 119 base hits (6.7 hits per 9 innings) with 57 walks. His ERA is 3.95 (70 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.105. Sheehan has thrown 159 innings and has earned 181 punch outs so far in his career.

The St. Louis Cardinals have earned a team OBP of .324 in addition to a batting average of .235 this season. They have been called out on strikes on 253 occasions (15th in the league) and have earned 236 hits. St. Louis is sitting with 39 home runs for the year to go along with 142 runs batted in. The Cardinals have a team SLG% of .397 and they tally 4.83 runs per contest (9th in MLB). They have tallied 43 doubles, while taking a walk 114 times as well as scoring 145 runs.

The Cardinals hold a team WHIP of 1.424 with a FIP of 4.71 as a squad on the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 6.90 (209 strikeouts vs 112 free passes). They come in at 26th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 274. They have allowed 36 dingers and they allow 5.08 runs per 9 innings (25th in baseball). The St. Louis pitching staff have given up 153 runs on the year while holding a team ERA of 4.75 (143 earned runs relinquished).

They are currently ranked 13th in MLB with a save percentage of 64.7%, and they have dispatched 111 relief pitchers onto the field on the season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 42 times in high leverage situations and also on 35 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 42 save situations, the Cardinals have earned 24 holds and also 6 blown saves. St. Louis has had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 17 save opportunities and they have tallied 11 saves. St. Louis bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 38.5% out of 52 inherited runners.

In 2,439 innings played, the Cardinals hold a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (17th in pro baseball). The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten 25 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (14th in the majors). The Cardinals have racked up 304 assists, 16 errors and have amassed 813 putouts this year.

During his MLB career, Liberatore has surrendered 383 base hits while he has earned 291 strikeouts in 364 innings. Liberatore (16-25 career win-loss record) has a 4.65 ERA while surrendering 9.5 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 188 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.387 and having a FIP of 4.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.39 and he has gone up against 1,577 hitters so far in his career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take St. Louis (+125)

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