Cardinals vs. Brewers 4/14 Game Prediction, Pitchers & Picks

Today, the top two teams in the NL Central open their first series of the 2022 MLB season as Brandon Woodruff and the Milwaukee Brewers host Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals.

According to preseason MLB division odds, the Brewers and Cardinals are a significant distance out in front of the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central.

Preseason Odds to Win the NL Central Division in 2022

• Milwaukee Brewers -170
• St. Louis Cardinals +240
• Chicago Cubs +1100
• Cincinnati Reds +1600
• Pittsburgh Pirates +5000

Odds via BetOnline Sportsbook.

Early on, the Cardinals are off to a 3-1 start and sit atop the division, with the 3-2 Cubs sandwiched between St. Louis and Milwaukee (3-3).

Behind a strong performance by reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, the Brewers evened their record and secured a series win yesterday against the Baltimore Orioles. Today, the Cardinals will get to face the second of the Brewers’ three potential Cy Young candidates in Woodruff, who will be looking to rebound from one of the worst performances of his MLB career.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers April 14 MLB Betting Odds, Starting Pitchers, and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals (3-1, 1st in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (3-3, 3rd in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: American Family Field (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
• Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022
• Time: 5:14 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Today’s Cardinals vs. Brewers Game: Bally Sports Midwest (Cardinals), Bally Sports Wisconsin (Brewers) & MLB Extra Innings (subscription package)

Cardinals vs. Brewers Pitching Matchup

• St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (2022: 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Milwaukee Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (2022: 0-1, 17.18 ERA)

Cardinals vs. Brewers Betting Odds

BetOnline Sportsbook

• Moneyline: St. Louis Cardinals +128, Milwaukee Brewers -152
• Total: OVER 8 (-102), UNDER 8 (-120)
• Run Line: St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (-178), Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+146)

Bovada Sportsbook

• Moneyline: St. Louis Cardinals +125, Milwaukee Brewers -145
• Total: OVER 8 (-110), UNDER 8 (-110)
• Run Line: St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (-160), Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+140)

BetUS

• Moneyline: St. Louis Cardinals +130, Milwaukee Brewers -152
• Total: OVER 8 (-109), UNDER 8 (-117)
• Run Line: St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (-167), Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+138)

Woodruff Seeks to Continue Home Success Against Cardinals After Chicago Catastrophe

Entering last Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Cubs, there was a lot of reason to feel good about Woodruff getting off to a good start after finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting last season.

After all, prior to that start, he was 6-1 in his career in March and April. His win percentage of .857 was his best in any stretch. Generally, he has been at his best from March to June, with 19 of his 28 career MLB wins coming in that span.

And then he promptly went out and had one of the worst, if not the worst, starts of his MLB career as the Cubs knocked him out of the game after only 3.2 innings.

In those 3.2 innings, Woodruff allowed seven runs, six hits, and three walks, and he struck out only two. To make matters worse, the Brewers were shut down at the plate by Justin Steele and the Cubs bullpen as the hosts rolled 9-0 at Wrigley Field.

It was an uncharacteristically bad outing for Woodruff and is unlikely to be repeated against the Cardinals, and not only because of his past success early in the season.

In 30 starts last season, he allowed three or more walks only five times in 30 starts. And across 2019 to 2021, he recorded 445 strikeouts and only 91 walks, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.89.

Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio for Brandon Woodruff from 2019 to 2021

• 2019: 143 K/30 BB (K/BB ratio: 4.77)
• 2020: 91 K/18 BB (K/BB ratio: 5.06)
• 2021: 211 K/43 BB (K/BB ratio: 4.91)

For context, only three qualified pitchers in MLB history have a higher ratio: current pitchers Chris Sale (5.33) and Jacob deGrom (5.10), and Tommy Bond (5.04), who pitched in the 1870s and 1880s.

And if he had enough innings to qualify, Woodruff’s career ratio of 4.31 (526 strikeouts to 122 walks) would rank 12th all time.

Also, he had not had more walks than strikeouts in a start since September 27, 2017, when he had no strikeouts and one walk in 2.1 innings and was roughed up by the Cincinnati Reds in his final start of his first season in the majors.

But giving up three or more walks in consecutive outings is rare for Woodruff, and so is giving up a lot of runs in consecutive outings. He has given up three or more walks in back-to-back outings only twice, and he has given up four or more runs in back-to-back outings only twice as well.

Woodruff has also had a lot of success against the Cardinals at American Family Field. In five career home starts against St. Louis, Woodruff has a 2.32 ERA.

Cardinals vs. Brewers Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Brewers to win

Best Bet: UNDER 8 (-110 at Bovada Sportsbook)

Look for Woodruff to bounce back well from Saturday’s shellacking, and for him and Wainwright to keep runs at a premium.