Philadelphia Phillies Vs. St. Louis Cardinals (7/9/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

Philadelphia is +4000 to win the 2022 World Series, they last won the title in 2008 and lost the World Series the subsequent year.  In 2022, through 83 games, the Phillies are 44-39, third place in the National League East.  They’re +1800 to win the division crown.  Their last playoff appearance was 2011, they made the playoffs five consecutive seasons, 2007-11.

The Cardinals are led by rookie skipper Oliver Marmol are 45-40 through 85 games, second place in the National League Central.   They’re +195 to win the National League Central and +4000 to win the 2022 World Series; they last won the World Series in 2011.  St. Louis currently has an 83.3% chance of making the 2022 playoffs. 

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. St. Louis Cardinals Betting Odds

The Phillies are 6-1 in their last seven road games vs. a team with a winning record.  Over is 11-3-1 in Philadelphia’s last 15 road games vs. a team with a winning record.  The Phillies are 0-5 in their last five during game two of a series.  Under is 5-1 in Philadelphia’s last six during game two of a series.  Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings between the Phillies and Cardinals.  St. Louis is 5-1 in their last six home games vs. a team with a winning record.  Under is 5-0 in the Cardinals last five vs. a team with a winning record.  St. Louis is 35-17 in their last 52 during game two of a series.  Under is 4-1 in the Cardinals last five during game two of a series.

Philadelphia Phillies Starting Lineup

LF K. Schwarber L
1B R. Hoskins R
RF N. Castellanos R
DH D. Hall L
C J. Realmuto R
SS D. Gregorius L
CF O. Herrera L
3B A. Bohm R
2B B. Stott L

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. Dakota Hudson (R)

In 2021, Bryce Harper won his second National League MVP in his career.  This season he’s hitting .318 with 15 home run and 48 runs batted in to lead the Phillies.  He broke his thumb and is out until at least August. 

Kyle Schwarber who signed with the Phillies in the off-season, hit .266 with 32 home runs while playing for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox last year.  He currently leads the National League in home runs with 27 and has been awesome since Harper’s injury.  Over the last seven days, he’s hit four home runs.  The 2016 World Series champion has hit at least 30 home runs in four major league seasons.  He’s knocked in 56 runs (seventh in MLB), accumulated 160 total bases, while slugging .535 with an OPS of .875 in 2022.  The left-handed slugger is +2800 to win the National League MVP Award.

Nick Castellanos hit .309 last season with 34 home runs and 100 runs batted in as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.  This year he’s hitting .251 with eight home runs, 44 runs batted in with an OPS of .682.  Castellanos has 122 total bases while slugging .382 in 2022.

Last year, Rhys Hoskins played in 107 games, hitting .247 with 27 home runs and 71 runs batted in.  This season, he has 17 doubles, two triple, 17 home runs, 42 runs batted in, 148 total bases with an OPS of .839.  Alec Bohm has hit 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs with 30 runs batted in this season.  Additionally, he has 106 total bases with an OPS of .660. 

J.T. Realmuto has hit 11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs with 100 total bases this year.  The Philadelphia catcher has knocked in 35 runs while slugging .377 with an OPS of .692 in 2022. 

Dakota Hudson is 6-5 in 16 starts with a 4.29 ERA in 2022.  He’s struck out 46 batters in 84 innings while allowing 40 runs with a 1.429 WHIP this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup

SS T. Edman S
LF B. Donovan L
1B P. Goldschmidt R
3B N. Arenado R
2B N. Gorman L
DH J. Yepez R
CF D. Carlson S
RF C. Capel L
C A. Romine R

St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Kyle Gibson (R)

Paul Goldschmidt currently leads the National League in batting average at .342; he’s a lifetime .296 hitter.  The first baseman is tied for second in the NL in runs batted in with 65 and has smacked 19 home runs in 2022.  Goldschmidt is second in the big leagues with 190 total bases, third in slugging percentage at .619 while being second in OPS at 1.045; he currently is the favorite to win the National League MVP at -115. 

Third baseman Nolan Arenado is in hitting .292 this season 20 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs, 55 runs batted in with 163 total bases.  He has an OPS of .886 with a .529 slugging percentage for the Cardinals in 2022.  Defensively he has a .967 fielding percentage at the hot corner: seven errors in 212 chances this season.

Second baseman Tommy Edman is hitting .261 with 12 doubles, three triples, seven home runs with 124 total bases this year.   He’s also driven in 32 runs and scored 58 runs for St. Louis in 2022.  Additionally, Edman has .329 on-base percentage, 19 stolen bases and a .380 slugging percentage. 

Dylan Carlson has 24 extra base hits (five home runs), 24 runs batted in with 95 total bases (fourth on the club).  The right fielder is slugging .413 with a .733 OPS in 2022.

Kyle Gibson is 4-3 in 16 starts with an ERA of 4.91 for Philadelphia this season.  The righty has tossed 84 1/3 innings in 2022, striking out 70 while allowing XX runs with a 1.304 WHIP.  In his 10^th big league season, Gibson has won 83 games with an ERA 4.48 in 1,420 2/3 innings.

Philadelphia Phillies Vs. St. Louis Cardinals Picks & Prediction

Phillies are 17-5 in their last 22 games vs. a right-handed starter.  Offensively, Philadelphia is averaging 4.91 runs per nine innings, fourth in the majors.  They are hitting .248 as a team, 10^th overall in MLB with an OPS of .739, seventh overall.  The Phillies’ pitching staff is allowing 4.21 runs per nine innings, 12^th in Major League Baseball with opponents hitting .237, 14^th overall.  Under is 7-3-1 in Phillies last 11 vs. National League Central foes.

The Cardinals are 1-4 in their last five vs. National League East opponents.  St. Louis is scoring 4.67 runs per game, ninth in the majors.  The Cardinals are hitting .251 as a team, eighth in MLB with an OPS of .723 which is 12^th in the big leagues.  St. Louis’s pitching staff is allowing 4.02 runs per nine innings, tenth in the majors with opponents hitting .244, 19^th in the league.  Under is 4-0 in the Cardinals last four games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Phillies have won at least 20 games on the road this season while the Cardinals have won over 20 games at home in 2022.  Each of these teams are led by two of the hottest hitters in baseball Kyle Schwarber of Philadelphia who has hit two home runs in two different games this week; the Phillies number 12 has hit 16 home runs combined in June and the first few games of July and Paul Goldschmidt of St. Louis who entering July hit 18 home runs and drove in 55 runs in May and June.  I’m going with the home team Cardinals in this game to cover the 1.5 run spread, while the teams combine for over eight runs due to the offensive prowess of both clubs.