Cardinals at Dodgers Predictions, Odds and Betting Picks
David Genge Published 01/09/2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the clear moneyline favorite at -160 at DraftKings, and the pitching matchup gives them a strong edge despite Eric Lauer carrying a 4.78 ERA. St. Louis also enters with major lineup concerns, including JJ Wetherholt's wrist injury and Blaze Jordan's ankle injury.
The Dodgers are priced at -160 at DraftKings, while the Cardinals sit at +160. Los Angeles also gets Will Smith back behind the plate after his Triple-A rehab assignment, adding another established bat to a lineup that already features Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.
Cardinals vs Dodgers Game Preview
The Cardinals enter this matchup at 68-70 and have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games. Michael McGreevy starts for St. Louis with a 5-9 record, 3.86 ERA and 98 strikeouts, but the Cardinals are dealing with several infield injuries that have thinned their lineup.
Dodgers vs. Cardinals Game Highlights (5/1/26) | MLB Highlights
The Dodgers are 82-55 and lead the NL West, with Eric Lauer taking the ball after Roki Sasaki went on the 15-day IL with a right middle-finger blister. Lauer is 8-6 with a 4.78 ERA and 70 strikeouts, while Will Smith is expected to return from the 60-day IL after missing nearly three months with a neck injury.
The situational setup favors Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, where the temperature is expected to be around 73°F with a light breeze toward the outfield. Shohei Ohtani will remain in the lineup as a designated hitter, but his throwing program has been paused after knee inflammation and biceps discomfort, and he will not pitch during the 2026 regular season.
Moneyline Pick
The Dodgers are the moneyline pick at -160. Los Angeles has the stronger 82-55 record compared with St. Louis at 68-70, and the Dodgers are adding Will Smith to a lineup that already gets production from Freddie Freeman and Ohtani. McGreevy's 3.86 ERA is solid, but St. Louis has gone 3-7 in its last 10 games while dealing with several lineup injuries.
Lauer's 4.78 ERA gives the Cardinals a clear starting-pitcher advantage on paper, but Los Angeles has more offensive depth and home-field support. The Dodgers also have a 63% probability in the Polymarket moneyline market, compared with 38% for the Cardinals, which closely matches the sportsbook's assessment.
Pick: Dodgers ML (-160 at DraftKings).
Run Line Pick
The Cardinals +1.5 is the run line pick at -143. DraftKings has St. Louis at +1.5 (-143), giving bettors a way to back the underdog without needing the Cardinals to win outright. McGreevy's 3.86 ERA gives St. Louis a starter capable of keeping the game within one run against a Dodgers club priced at -160 on the moneyline.
The Cardinals also have a 38% win probability in the Polymarket market, while the Dodgers are priced at 63%. That gap still leaves room for St. Louis to stay competitive, especially with McGreevy bringing 98 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA into the opener. With the standard 1.5-run cushion, the Cardinals only need to avoid a multi-run loss to cash the run line.
Pick: Cardinals +1.5 (-143 at DraftKings).
Best Player Prop
- Michael McGreevy strikeouts Over 5.5 (odds TBD at DraftKings). McGreevy has recorded 98 strikeouts this season, and his 3.86 ERA gives him a strong base for working deep enough to reach the six-strikeout mark. The Dodgers' aggressive lineup also gives McGreevy plenty of chances to rack up strikeouts if he can consistently get ahead in the count. With 98 Ks already on his season ledger, six strikeouts is a reachable target if he works at least five innings.
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Game Total Pick
The Under 9.0 is the total pick at -120. DraftKings lists the total at 9.0 runs, with the Under priced at -120. McGreevy brings a 3.86 ERA into the matchup, while the Cardinals' injury-hit lineup is missing Wetherholt, Jordan and potentially Winn, limiting some of St. Louis' offensive depth.
The 73°F conditions and light wind blowing toward the outfield give hitters a modest boost, but Dodger Stadium remains a pitcher-friendly night setting. Lauer's 4.78 ERA creates some risk for the Under, yet the Cardinals' recent 3-7 run and depleted infield make nine runs a high enough number to attack.
McGreevy has also allowed just enough contact to keep the total from getting out of hand, while the Cardinals' depleted lineup faces a Dodgers pitching staff that has held opponents in check throughout the season. With St. Louis missing key infield pieces and Los Angeles not needing to force the scoring pace early, the game has a clear path to staying below the nine-run number.
Pick: Under 9.0 (-120 at DraftKings).
How to Watch Cardinals vs Dodgers and Game Info
- Location: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
- Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
- TV: SportsNet LA, Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365.
- Cardinals starting pitcher: Michael McGreevy (5-9, 3.86 ERA).
- Dodgers starting pitcher: Eric Lauer (8-6, 4.78 ERA).
- Weather forecast: 73°F, clear skies, wind blowing toward the outfield.
Final Takeaways
The Dodgers are the moneyline pick at -160 at DraftKings because their 82-55 record, home setting and deeper lineup outweigh Lauer's 4.78 ERA. The Cardinals +1.5 (-143 at DraftKings) is the better run-line angle, while the Under 9.0 (-120 at DraftKings) gets support from McGreevy's 3.86 ERA and St. Louis' injury-hit lineup. McGreevy Over 5.5 strikeouts is the lone player prop pick, with his 98 strikeouts this season providing the key statistical support.
All odds as of 3:46 a.m. ET on September 1, 2026. Odds sourced from DraftKings. Check the latest odds and line movement for Cardinals vs Dodgers at betting.net before placing your bets.