August 19th 03:15 MLB St. Louis vs. LA Dodgers International Baseball Analysis Sports Analysis
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Palante's great performance led the St. Louis Cardinals to escape their losing streak, and now Sonny Gray (11 wins, 7 losses, 3.93 ERA) is aiming for his 12th win of the season. On the 13th, Gray had a poor outing against Cincinnati, allowing 6 runs in 5 innings, proving once again that he struggles on the road. However, his recent strong performances at home, with a 2.66 ERA and a .191 batting average against in day games, are promising signs for a good showing. St. Louis's lineup managed to score 5 runs, including 3 home runs, against Miller and Honeywell in the previous game, but they have only scored 4 runs from home runs just in the last game, which is concerning. Their scoring chances have not improved, as they have a poor 1 hit in 9 at-bats with runners in scoring position. The bullpen, which held the opponents scoreless for 2 innings, feels secure with closer Helsley.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, whose batting slump led to a resounding defeat, will have Clayton Kershaw (1 win, 2 losses, 3.50 ERA) seeking his 2nd win of the season. Kershaw pitched 5.2 innings allowing only 1 run on 3 hits in a win against Milwaukee on the 13th, showing signs of returning to form. He tends to be very strong against St. Louis during the regular season, even if he has struggled in the postseason. The Dodgers' offense could only muster 2 runs, including a solo home run from Shohei Ohtani, against Palante's overpowering pitching, and they haven’t fixed their inconsistency on the road, especially showing weakness after the 4th batter. The bullpen managed to hold up for 3.1 innings allowing only 1 run, which is fortunate given their recent struggles.
To beat the Dodgers, one needs to hit hard. St. Louis executed this strategy perfectly in their victory the previous day. With the current form of Gray, a quality start could be expected. However, the Cardinals struggle against left-handed pitchers with effective sliders, and Kershaw fits that bill perfectly. While bullpen performance can be variable, both teams have comparably strong bullpens, which could determine the outcome. The strengths between the teams favor the Dodgers nearing a win.
Predicted score: 5-4, Dodgers win.
Handicap: St. Louis win.
Over/Under: Over.