Mariners vs Cardinals Prediction MLB Picks Today 4/23

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Cardinals vs Mariners (Apr 23, 2023) Pregame: Mariners try to sweep 3-game series against the Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals (8-13, fourth in the NL Central) are set to face off against the Seattle Mariners (10-11, fourth in the AL West) in the final game of a three-game series. The Mariners will aim to sweep the series against the Cardinals in their home game at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, April 23 at 4:10 p.m. EDT. Both teams have struggled in the early season, with the Mariners sitting at 10-11 overall and the Cardinals at 8-13. However, this game presents an opportunity for the Mariners to improve their home record to 7-8, while the Cardinals aim to snap a two-game losing streak. The pitching probables for the game are Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 17 strikeouts) for the Cardinals and Chris Flexen (0-3, 7.79 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) for the Mariners. The Cardinals are currently favorites at -114, while the Mariners sit at -105. The over/under for the game is set at 8.5 runs. Cardinal hitters have been performing well with a collective .265 batting average, ranking third in the NL. On the other hand, the Mariners will look to their top performers, Teoscar Hernandez and Jarred Kelenic, who have combined for nine home runs and 18 RBI over the last 10 games. MLB picks and predictions experts suggest that this game could be close, with both teams struggling to gain momentum in the early season. However, with home-field advantage on their side, the Mariners will aim to sweep the Cardinals and improve their record. Stay tuned for a full-length prediction article for this game.

Cardinals: Pitching Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals are struggling early in the season, with a record of 8-13 and sitting fourth in the NL Central. However, one bright spot for the team has been their starting pitching, particularly Jack Flaherty. Flaherty has a 1-2 record with a 2.95 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He has also only given up one home run in his four starts this season. If he can continue to pitch at this level, the Cardinals may have a chance to turn their season around. The rest of the Cardinals' rotation has not been as solid. Miles Mikolas and Adam Wainwright are both on the IL, leaving the team with less depth in the rotation. The Cardinals will need their bullpen to step up to support their starters. Overall, the Cardinals pitching staff has been decent, but their offense has been lacking. 

Cardinals: Hitting Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a mediocre start to the season, with an 8-13 record overall and a 3-5 record on the road. However, their hitters have been performing well, with a collective batting average of .265, which ranks third in the NL. Nolan Gorman leads the way with five home runs, while Tommy Edman has been instrumental in driving in runs with eight RBIs over the past 10 games. The Cardinals' hitting prowess will be put to the test in their upcoming game against the Seattle Mariners, who are looking to sweep the three-game series. Experts and computer predictions have the Cardinals as a slight favorite with a -114 moneyline, but the Mariners are not far behind with a -105 moneyline. If the Cardinals want to come out on top, they will need to continue their strong hitting performance against Mariners pitcher Chris Flexen, who has struggled so far this season with a 0-3 record and a 7.79 ERA. Overall, while the Cardinals have had a slow start to the season, their hitting has been a bright spot, and if they can continue to perform at a high level, they could turn their season around. As for their upcoming game against the Mariners, it will be a close one, but the Cardinals have the potential to come out on top.

Mariners: Pitching Analysis

Looking at the pitching matchup, Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals will take the mound against Chris Flexen of the Mariners. Both pitchers have struggled early in the season, but Flaherty has shown glimpses of his dominant self with a 2.95 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Flexen, on the other hand, has struggled with a 7.79 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Overall, the experts and MLB picks and parlay models are split on which team will come out on top in this game. However, the Mariners have the advantage of playing at home and have been hitting the ball well lately, with Teoscar Hernandez and Jarred Kelenic leading the way with a combined nine home runs over the last 10 games. As for the Cardinals, Nolan Gorman has been a bright spot in their lineup, with five home runs and a slugging percentage of .619. However, they have struggled on the road this season with a 3-5 record and will need to improve on both offense and defense if they hope to avoid a sweep by the Mariners. In terms of the over/under for the game, MLB picks today experts have set the line at 8.5 runs, indicating a potentially low-scoring game. Despite the close odds, the Mariners seem to have the slight edge in this game, but the Cardinals could still pull off the upset if their hitting and pitching both come together.

Mariners: Hitting Analysis

The MLB picks and parlays experts suggest that the Cardinals' hitting performance may carry them through the game, with a collective batting average of .265, which ranks third in the NL. The Mariners will depend on Teoscar Hernandez, who leads the team with five home runs and a slugging percentage of .476, and Jarred Kelenic, who has hit four home runs and nine RBIs in the last 10 games. Overall, the best MLB bets for today's game may be the Cardinals' moneyline odds and the over on the 8.5 run total. It will be an exciting game to watch as the Mariners and Cardinals battle it out on the field, but ultimately the Cardinals may edge out a win with their strong hitting performance.

Injury Report

For the Mariners, Evan White, Andres Munoz, Robbie Ray, Taylor Trammell, and Dylan Moore are all dealing with various injuries that have landed them on the IL. These injuries can be detrimental to the Mariners' lineup and pitching staff, especially with White being out for 60 days due to an adductor injury. The Cardinals also have a few players on the IL, including Packy Naughton, Paul DeJong, Wilking Rodriguez, and Adam Wainwright. These injuries have forced the Cardinals to rely on their bench players and call-ups to fill in the gaps. 

Prediction