Giants vs Cardinals Prediction MLB Picks Free 4/26

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Cardinals vs Giants (Apr 26, 2023) Pregame Preview: MLB Picks, Experts, and Predictions

The St. Louis Cardinals will face the San Francisco Giants on April 26, 2023, at Oracle Park. Both teams have had a slow start to the season with the Cardinals having a record of 9-14 and the Giants at 9-13. With a matchup predictor of 43.9% in favor of the Cardinals and 56.1% for the Giants, according to analytics, this game is sure to be a close one. But who will the MLB picks experts and the MLB picks computer predict to win this game? Let's take a closer look at the predictions and odds for this matchup.

Cardinals: Pitching Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rocky start to their season, but their pitching staff has shown some promise. With a current record of 9-14, the Cardinals have struggled to find consistency on the mound, but there are a few bright spots to note. Starting pitcher Steven Matz has been a standout performer for the Cardinals, with a 0-3 record and a 3.65 ERA. Despite not earning a win yet this season, Matz has been able to keep his team in games and provide quality starts. Anthony DeSclafani, who will be starting against the Giants on April 26th, has also had a solid start to the season with a 1-1 record and a 2.88 ERA. The Cardinals bullpen has been a mixed bag, with some pitchers struggling while others have excelled. Giovanny Gallegos has been a reliable reliever for the Cardinals, with a 2.45 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched. Jordan Hicks has come back strong after missing the 2022 season due to injury, with a 2.70 ERA and 8 strikeouts in 10 innings. Overall, the Cardinals pitching staff has shown potential, but they will need to improve in order to turn their season around. Experts and computer MLB picks and predictions have been mixed for the Cardinals, but they will need to focus on consistency and minimizing walks in order to have success. As they continue their series against the Giants on April 26th, the Cardinals will need a strong pitching performance in order to secure a win.

Cardinals: Hitting Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a rough start to the 2023 MLB season, currently sitting with a losing record of 9-14. However, experts and computer predictions suggest that their hitting may be the key to turning things around. MLB Picks Experts have analyzed the Cardinals' hitting statistics and believe that with players like Nolan Gorman and Thairo Estrada leading the charge, they have the potential to improve their offensive numbers. MLB Picks Computer predictions also show that their bats may come alive in upcoming games. MLB Today Experts have also noted that the Cardinals have been performing well in specific areas, including their .310 batting average and 4.52 runs per game. These strengths, combined with their recent acquisition of pitcher Steven Matz, could lead to a successful season if their hitting continues to improve. MLB Picks and Parlay options may be worth considering for bettors looking to capitalize on the Cardinals' potential upswing. Best MLB Bets Today may also offer insights into their hitting trends and odds of winning. MLB Picks with Spread and MLB Predictions Today suggest that the Cardinals may have a chance at a comeback against the San Francisco Giants on April 26th, 2023. However, the Giants are currently favored to win the game according to MLB Picks Odds. Regardless of the outcome of that specific game, the Cardinals should continue to focus on improving their hitting performance throughout the rest of the season. If they do, they may have a chance at climbing their way up the National League Central standings.

Pitching Analysis: Giants

As the Cardinals head to Oracle Park to take on the Giants, both teams are looking for a boost from their pitching staffs. The MLBPicks experts, along with various computer models, are giving the Giants a slight edge when it comes to pitching predictions for this game. The probable starter for the Cardinals is left-handed pitcher Steven Matz, who has struggled early in the season with an ERA of 6.55 and WHIP of 1.64. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance in his previous outings and could turn things around in this game. The Giants are countering with Anthony DeSclafani, who has a 1-1 record with a 2.63 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. DeSclafani has been a solid addition to the Giants' rotation and could pose a challenge for the Cardinals' offense. MLB picks and parlay experts are suggesting that the under is a solid pick in this game, with the pitching expected to dominate. However, there may be value in taking the Giants with the spread, as they are the home team and have the more reliable starter on the mound. Ultimately, this game could come down to which team's bullpen performs better. The Cardinals' bullpen has struggled in the early part of the season, with a 4.74 ERA, while the Giants' bullpen has been one of the best in baseball with a 1.91 ERA. If the game is close, the Giants may have the advantage with their shutdown bullpen.

Hitting Analysis

As the St. Louis Cardinals gear up to face the San Francisco Giants on April 26, 2023, the MLB picks experts are crunching numbers and making their predictions. Using a combination of computer algorithms and expert analysis, the consensus picks show the Giants as the favorites with a 56.1% chance of winning the game compared to the Cardinals' 43.9%. Looking at the run line and money line, the experts' best MLB bets today are predicting a close game with the Cardinals at -115 and the Giants at -105. Meanwhile, the over/under is set at 8.5, with the odds indicating a slightly higher likelihood of the game going over that total. The Cardinals will be hoping that their recent run of form can continue, having won two of their last five games. However, facing off against the Giants, who have a current winning streak of four games, may prove to be a tough challenge. Analyzing the hitting and pitching statistics for both teams, it appears that the Giants have the edge, with their batters ranking 28th in the league for hits/game against the Cardinals' 4th place ranking. Additionally, the Giants' pitchers have given up fewer total bases/game and earned runs against/game than the Cardinals' pitchers. While the Cardinals will undoubtedly put up a tough fight, it looks like the Giants are favorites to come out on top in this game, according to the MLB picks experts' predictions and analysis.

Injury Report

As the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants gear up for their matchup on April 26, 2023, injuries may play a factor in the outcome of the game. The Cardinals are currently dealing with a few injuries, including starting pitcher Austin Love who is day-to-day, Dakota Hudson who is also day-to-day, Adam Wainwright who is on the 15-day IL, and Wilking Rodriguez who is also on the 15-day IL. On the other hand, the Giants have Bryce Johnson on the 7-day IL, Armando Alvarez who is day-to-day, R.J. Dabovich who is day-to-day, and Darin Ruf who is on the 10-day IL. While these injuries may impact the game, MLB picks experts, MLB picks computer, and MLB picks emp predictions still suggest the Giants have the upper hand in this matchup with a 56.1% chance of winning. However, MLB today experts and MLB picks and parlay may have different opinions, so it's important to consider a variety of sources when making MLB expert picks today. It's also worth noting that the Cardinals have struggled on the road this season with a 4-6 record, while the Giants have had a slightly better home record of 5-6. 

Prediction

First, the Giants have a slightly better record than the Cardinals, with a 10-13 overall record and a 6-6 home record, compared to the Cardinals' 9-15 overall record and 4-7 away record. Additionally, the Giants have won their last four games, while the Cardinals have lost their last two games.

Furthermore, in terms of pitching, the Giants have Anthony DeSclafani as their probable pitcher. DeSclafani has a solid 1-1 record with a 2.63 ERA and a low 0.88 WHIP, indicating good control and few walks. On the other hand, the Cardinals' probable pitcher, Steven Matz, has not had a great start to the season with a 0-3 record and a high 6.55 ERA.

In terms of hitting, the Giants have a slightly better team batting average at .237 compared to the Cardinals' .267. The Giants also have a slightly higher number of home runs at 36, compared to the Cardinals' 28. Additionally, the Giants have several key hitters such as Mike Yastrzemski and Thairo Estrada, who have been performing well this season.

Finally, the game is being played at Oracle Park, where the Giants have a 6-6 record so far this season. While the Cardinals have a decent away record at 4-7, playing away from home may still be a disadvantage for them.

Pick: Giants ML