The Cardinals (23-17) open a 3-game set against the Athletics (21-19) at Sutter Health Park, and somehow St. Louis is the underdog at +135 on the moneyline. Both clubs are middle-of-the-pack hot — 2-3 over their last 5 for the Cards, 3-2 for the A's — so this one feels exactly as coin-flippy as the line suggests.
Andre Pallante carries a 4.34 ERA into this start after a rough one against Milwaukee on May 6, where a 3-run homer in the first inning blew up his whole afternoon in a 6-2 loss. He worked into the 6th, but the damage was done early. The Cards need a cleaner opening frame this time.
Jeffrey Springs has been the steadier arm of the two — he went 5.1 innings in Philadelphia on May 6, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks. The prior start in Kansas City got cut to 3 innings with right hip soreness, but Kotsay framed it as precautionary and Springs is fully cleared. A 3.89 ERA backs that up.
The injury sheet is where this game gets interesting. Oakland's already without Max Muncy and Denzel Clarke, and now Jacob Wilson is day-to-day with a left shoulder sprain after exiting Sunday's loss to Baltimore. Losing your starting shortstop on top of the IL guys is a real problem against a Cardinals lineup that finally has a Lars Nootbaar rehab assignment on the horizon.
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse SP — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos RP — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson SP — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton RP — Imaging revealed damage to the UCL in Naughton's left elbow Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson RP — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.
- 10-Day-ILRamon Urias 3B — The Cardinals placed Urias on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right elbow lateral epicondylitis.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Pushard RP — The Cardinals must decide soon whether to return Pushard (knee) to the active roster or expose the Rule 5 pick to waivers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar LF — Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Nootbaar (heels) is on track to begin a rehab assignment as soon as the week of May 10, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayJacob Wilson SS — Wilson was diagnosed with a left shoulder sprain after exiting Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (foot) has begun a running and hitting progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy 3B — Muncy (hand) has yet to resume baseball activities, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) was given a cortisone injection in his left hip May 1, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Total sits at 10 and the over is juiced to -113, which tracks — Pallante has been homer-prone, the A's bullpen sports a 4.43 team ERA, and Sutter Health Park plays like a launching pad on warm nights. If you're picking a side, the value sits with St. Louis at plus money; if you're picking a number, the over has the cleaner case.