San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals odds, picks and predictions (2024)

The San Francisco Giants(36-39) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (36-37) Thursday in the opener of a 3-game set at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., at 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Giants vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Giants won 6-1 last year.

This game has been dubbed “MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues,” as the game will be played in the home of the Birmingham Black Barons. This game has taken on more significance with the passing of Willie Mays at age 93 Tuesday. St. Louis will be the home team, and after an off-day Friday, the series will shift to Busch Stadium for the final 2 games.

This will be the first MLB game ever at the stadium, which has undergone renovations over the past year to prepare for this game. The dimensions are about 400 feet to center field, 370 to right field and 325 to left, and it has a double decker wall, which may keep more balls in the park. The stadium was always known to be a cavernous pitchers’ park. While the renovations were made to align the park more with present-day stadiums, it could still lean toward pitchers.

The Giants dropped the finale of a 3-game set at Wrigley Field Wednesday 6-5 to drop 2 of 3 in the series. The Giants entered the 8th inning down 6-1, but could not overcome the deficit. DH Jorge Soler hit a grand slam in the 8th for his 9th HR.

The Cards were walked off by the Miami Marlins Wednesday in a 4-3 defeat. They had to go with a bullpen game after RHP Kyle Gibson was scratched minutes before game time with a stiff back. 3B Nolan Arenado (elbow) was hit on the elbow and left the game, and he’s probably questionable for this one.

Giants vs. Cardinals projected starters

RHP Keaton Winnvs. RHP Andre Pallante

Winn (3-7, 6.66 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.33 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 52 2/3 IP.

• Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K Saturday against Los Angeles Angels
• Has not faced Cardinals
• Last 5 starts: 0-4, 13.02 ERA (27 ER in 18 2/3 IP)

Pallante (2-3, 4.61 ERA) makes his 5th start and 14th appearance. He has a 1.57 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 in 27 1/3 IP.

• Last start: Loss, 3 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K Saturday against Chicago Cubs
• 4 career relief appearance vs. Giants: 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER (2.45 ERA), 5 H, 4 BB, 1 K
• In 4 starts this year: 2-2, 3.63 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 7.8 K/9

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Giants vs. Cardinals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:31 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Giants +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Cardinals -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Giants +1.5 (-210) | Cardinals -1.5 (+155)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Giants vs. Cardinals picks and predictions

Prediction

Giants 5, Cardinals 3

Moneyline

The Giants prevail in Mays’ honor Thursday. The Cards generally struggle against pitchers they haven’t seen before. And if this park holds up to the cavernous settings of yesteryear, that plays against the fly-out-happy Redbirds. The Cards’ pen is also ravaged after 2 extra-inning games and a bullpen game the last 3 days.

Take the GIANTS +100.

Run line/Against the spread

I love KEATON WINN OVER 15.5 OUTS (-110) here. As mentioned, the Cards struggle against pitchers they haven’t faced before. The park’s dimensions should also produce a lot of quick flyouts. Winn went 6 IP in his last start, and he should approach that in this game.

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Over/Under

The Cards are 2-8 O/U over their last 10, and the Giants are 6-4. Pallante is a ground-ball pitcher who has fared well in the rotation. The Giants are tied for 12th with 4.4 R/game, and the Cards are tied for 24th with 3.9 R/game.

It’ll be close, but I LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-105).

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