The St. Louis Cardinals exceeded expectations in the 2022 MLB season, finishing with a terrific 93-69 record and going to the wild-card round of the playoffs in the National League. However, they were swept at home by the Philadelphia Phillies (who would go on to win the pennant before losing to Houston in the World Series). During the off-season, the Cardinals largely stood pat, with their only major addition coming at catcher, where they brought in Willson Contreras from the Chicago Cubs. Let’s look ahead to predict what the Cardinals can do in 2023 and to consider whether you should include them in your MLB betting.
MLB News: 2023 St. Louis Cardinals Season Predictions
World Series Odds: +2000
Along with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Cardinals are considered the 10th-best choice to win the World Series. They sit just behind Seattle and Philadelphia (both listed at +1500). The favorites are the Houston Astros (+600), and the top teams in the National League are the New York Mets and the L.A. Dodgers, both listed at +700.
The Cardinals have made it to the NL wild card round three seasons in a row, but they have failed to advance to the NL Division Series in each of those campaigns.
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes -230 / No +190
The Cardinals have a four-year postseason streak and have made the playoffs nine times in the last 12 seasons. Many projections have St. Louis winning a Central Division that has a Milwaukee Brewers team that should be down from what they have been in the past, as they didn’t do much to bolster their batting order and lost a couple of starting pitchers to free agency.
Season Win Total: 88.5
In 2021, the Cardinals went 90-72, and last year then went 93-69. In three of the last four seasons, they have won at least 90 games, with the exception coming in the pandemic-shorted campaign of 2020. Contreras joins a lineup that already had two huge bats in third baseman Nolan Arenado and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, the reigning MVP in the National League. The win total seems a bit low given that historical performance and the addition of Contreras, so taking the over seems like a good gamble.
NL Central Division Odds
- St. Louis Cardinals -120
- Milwaukee Brewers +155
- Chicago Cubs +650
- Cincinnati Reds +6000
- Pittsburgh Pirates +7000
The Cardinals have two division crowns in the last four years and five titles in the last ten seasons. There are only three teams in MLB that have a minus moneyline to win the division. This wager doesn’t bring a lot of value, especially in a sport with a 162-game regular season that can bring injuries and other factors.
Odds to Win the Pennant: +1000
The National League has a number of teams with even more talent than St. Louis, so the race for the pennant will likely be a tight one. The Dodgers are the favorites at +330, but the Mets (+350), the Atlanta Braves (+400), the San Diego Padres (+425) and Philadelphia (+750) are lal higher on the odds list than the Cardinals.
With that said, the Cardinals may not be getting enough value for the addition of Contreras. To be sure, their disappointing outcome in the wild card round last year is likely a factor in their odds this time around. The value that they offer makes them an interesting pick to win the pennant this time around.
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