Dodgers vs. Cardinals prediction and odds for Thursday, May 18

The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals will play in a four-game National League series starting on Thursday night.

The Cardinals have stumbled out of the gate to say the least and are now in dead last in the NL Central after starting the season as the betting favorites to win the division.

Can they turn things around against the Dodgers or will Los Angeles remain hot?

Let's find out what the oddsmakers think for Game 1 on Thursday.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals odds, run line, and total

Dodgers vs. Cardinals prediction and pick

The Cardinals have struggled heavily against left-handed pitchers this month, sporting an OPS of .659 in 193 plate appearances against lefties this month, which ranks 26th in the Majors in May.

That's bad news for St. Louis backers on Thursday considering the Dodgers will be rolling with lefty, Julio Urias, in the series opener. He sports a 3.61 ERA through his first nine starts

Meanwhile, the Cardinals will be rolling with Adam Wainwright, who has been lit up in his first two starts this season. He allowed four earned runs across 5.0 innings in each of his first two starts, and now he has to take on a Dodgers team that he had a 4.32 ERA in two starts against them last season.

Not only that, but the Dodgers offense has been hot this month with an overall OPS of .805 in May,

I'll back the Dodgers are road favorites on Thursday night.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.