Cardinals vs. Dodgers prediction and odds for Friday, April 28 (Back LA at a discount)

Two playoff teams are off to slow starts in 2023, but who can get on track to start a weekend series?

The Dodgers are .500 at 13-13, while the Cardinals are 10-16, well off the pace in the surprisingly competitive NL Central. Dustin May toes the rubber for Los Angeles as he looks to outduel Jack Flaherty, who has been pitching well above his head while he returns from injury.

Here are the odds for this Friday night matchup before we break down if the Dodgers can take care of business at home.

Cardinals vs. Dodgers odds, run line and total

Cardinals vs. Dodgers prediction and pick

While May needs to lower his walks (10 walks to 19 strikeouts), he is elite at generating soft contact and avoiding compounding mistakes. The Dodgers starter has a 3.07 ERA that is supported by a 3.79 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), hinting that his production is pretty on par with what is expected.

The same can't be said for Flaherty, who is walking nearly one batter per inning this season. After missing most of last season with a shoulder injury, Flaherty is not as back as his ERA (3.29) would indicate. He has a FIP of 5.18, as he has been sneaking by blowup innings all year long.

However, he gets caught on Friday against this elite Dodgers lineup. LA leads the big leagues in walk rate and will force Flaherty to throw strikes, something he is struggling to do since his season debut. With ducks on the pond, Los Angeles will cash in and chase Flaherty from the game.

Ultimately, the Dodgers are the far superior team with an edge on the mound. Lay the price with the home favorite.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.