Free MLB Picks Today: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals 4/30/23

The St. Louis Cardinals (10-18) are on the road to face the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-13) at Dodger Stadium on Sunday with the home team eyeing a sweep of the three-game series.

The Dodgers lead the series 2-0 after winning 1-0 on Saturday, their fourth straight head-to-head victory. Clayton Kershaw threw seven scoreless innings – striking out nine – to get the win, and Brusdar Graterol picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth. James Outman went 2 for 3 with one run in the win over the Cardinals.

ON THE MOUND

Jake Woodford (1-2, 5.47 ERA) is set to start for St. Louis. The righty allowed two runs over 5.1 innings in his last start, a 5-4 road defeat against the Giants on Tuesday. He gave up five hits while striking out four and walking one in the no-decision. Woodford is making his first appearance against the Dodgers this season.

Woodford made one appearance against the Dodgers in 2022, a 4-1 road loss on September 25. He allowed one hit over one scoreless inning. For Los Angeles, RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-3, 6.58 ERA) gets the start. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Cardinals.

In his last start on Tuesday, Syndergaard took a no-decision on the road against the Pirates. He threw four innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits, striking out two, in the 8-7 victory.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, St. Louis has averaged only 3.2 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.3, while slashing worse across the board (.230/.298/.370).

Against right-handed pitchers like Syndergaard this season, the Cards have a .735 OPS. Nolan Gorman is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .981 OPS in 80 at-bats.

Los Angeles is averaging only 3.8 runs per game in the last five, down from 5.0 for the season, with their slash line dropping across the board (.199/.267/.317).

The Dodgers have a .799 OPS against right-handers in 2023, third highest in the league. With a 1.251 OPS over 50 at-bats, Max Muncy has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

St. Louis is 5-10 away from home in 2023, scoring 3.7 runs per game while allowing 4.3 runs. Los Angeles has gone 8-6 at their home park this season, averaging 4.7 runs per game while surrendering 2.9. In the last 10 meetings at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 4.8-2.9.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Cardinals are fifth in the NL Central, 10 games behind the division-leading Pirates. The Dodgers are second in the NL West, one games behind the Diamondbacks.