The San Diego Padres (55-47) face the St. Louis Cardinals (52-51) in the opener of a 4-game set Thursday. First pitch from Busch Stadium in St. Louis is set for 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Padres vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; St. Louis won 4-3 last year

The Padres come to town after losing 2 of 3 in Miami. The Marlins beat them 3-2 Wednesday. 3B Manny Machado had 2 hits and an RBI in that one. The offense has been a concern, scoring 2, 3 and 2 runs in that set.

The Cardinals dropped 2 of 3 in Coors Field and were rather non-competitive on the mound against the Colorado Rockies. They’re now 1-5 since the All-Star break and looking very much like sellers at the trade deadline. They had 5 hits and no runs in Coors Field Wednesday. They are still technically in the race, 3 1/2 behind the Padres in the Wild Card chase.

Padres at Cardinals projected starters

RHP Yu Darvish vs. RHP Sonny Gray

Darvish (0-2, 6.08 ERA) makes his fourth start. He has a 1.50 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9 and 5.4 K/9 through 13 1/3 innings.

Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Nationals SaturdayLast 5 starts vs. St. Louis: 2-2, 2.60 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 37 K’s in 34 2/3 IP

Gray (9-4, 4.04 ERA) makes his 21st start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 through 111 1/3 innings.

Last start: Loss, 3 1/3 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 0 BB, 5 K in a 10-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday3 career starts vs. Padres: 3-0, 1.59 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 19 K in 17 IP

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Padres at Cardinals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:24 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Padres +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Cardinals -150 (bet $150 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Padres +1.5 (-165) | Cardinals -1.5 (+140)Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)Padres at Cardinals picks and predictionsPrediction

Padres 6, Cardinals 3

Have you ever seen that music video by Faith No More where the fish is flopping around on the stage and then the piano blows up? That’s this Cardinals team right now. Players are coming out into the media expressing frustrations with front office decisions, and the vibe isn’t good. They just got shut out in Coors Field, and you want me to put -150 on them?

Nah, give me the PADRES (+125). Former Cards manager Mike Shildt still has a bone to pick with Cards management, and he’ll be in the other dugout trying to do just that.

I’ll PASS on the RL and go for MANNY MACHADO OVER 1.5 H+R+RBIs (-125). He’s 11-for-32 (.344) with 2 doubles and 2 homers lifetime off Gray.

It’s expected to be 94 degrees with a 6-mph breeze blowing out to left-center. The Cards are 5-3-2 O/U in their last 10 games and have given up 5+ runs in 5 of 6 games since the All-Star break.

Give me the ALTERNATE OVER 8.5 (+100).

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