Pick details
| MATCHUP | St. Louis Cardinals | Houston Astros |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 11-8 | 8-13 |
| Where | Daikin Park, Houston, Texas | |
| When | Friday, April 17, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:10 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN Unlmtd | |
The St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Daikin Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The St. Louis Cardinals will send out Kyle Leahy for the start here and Leahy is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA and 7 strikeouts this season. This will be Leahy’s first career start against Houston. The Houston Astros will send out Peter Lambert for the start here and Lambert was 2-5 with a 5.72 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 2024. This will be Lambert’s second career start against the Astros.
St. Louis Cardinals Recap
The St. Louis Cardinals come into this game looking to add on to their 5-3 win over Cleveland last time out to sit at 10-8 this season. After this series, the Cardinals will take on the Miami Marlins on the road.
Cardinals Win Back-To-Back Games
Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with 22 hits, 3 doubles, 8 home runs and 15 RBIs while Alec Burleson has 19 hits with 3 doubles, a pair of home runs and 14 RBIs. JJ Wetherholt has 15 hits with 3 home run and 9 RBIs while Ivan Herrera has 12 hits with 3 doubles and 7 RBIs. Nolan Gorman has 11 hits with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs this season.
Houston Astros Recap
The Houston Astros come into this game looking to bounce back from a 3-2 loss at the hands of Colorado last time out to sit at 8-12 this season. After this series, the Astros will head on the road for a series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Astros Fail To Complete Sweep
Yordan Alvarez has 22 hits with 6 doubles, 7 home runs and 18 RBIs while Christian Walker has 20 hits with 6 doubles, 4 home runs and 16 RBIs on the year. Jose Altuve’s chipped in 21 hits with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs and Carlos Correa has 18 hits with 4 doubles, a home run and 9 RBIs. Cam Smith also has 19 hits with 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 10 RBIs. Yainer Diaz also has 11 hits with a double, a home run and 9 RBIs.
St. Louis Cardinals @ Houston Astros Betting Trends: April 17, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Peter Lambert Record this season: – ERA: –
- Home Record: –
- Last 5 against Cardinals: 0-1
Why the Houston Astros will win
- The Cardinals have lost each of their last six road games against American League opponents following a home win.
- The home team has won 10 of the Astros’ last 11 games.
- The Astros have covered the run line each of their last nine Friday games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in 13 of their last 14 road games against AL West opponents following a win.
- The Cardinals have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last eight games as road underdogs.
- The Astros have led after 3 innings in seven of their last eight night games against National League opponents.
- The Astros have won the first inning in five of their last six home games.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Kyle Leahy Record this season: 1-2 ERA: 5.14
- Road Record: 1-0
- Last 5 against Astros: 0-0
Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win
- The Astros have lost six of their last eight games as favorites.
- The Cardinals have won three of their last four games as underdogs against the Astros.
- The Astros have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as favorites.
- The Cardinals have covered the run line in three of their last four games against the Astros.
- The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Astros have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Astros have lost the first inning in six of their last eight games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cardinals’ last four games as underdogs have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Five of the Astros’ last six home games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last eight games.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last four games.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Yainer Diaz has hit a home run in each of the Astros’ last three home games against the Cardinals.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last nine games against the Cardinals.
- Yordan Alvarez ranks 1st amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.731) this season.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Alec Burleson has hit a home run in two of the Cardinals’ last three road games against the Astros.
- Alec Burleson has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine road appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Jordan Walker ranks T1st in the league in Home Runs (8) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Astros rank T1st in the league for runs scored this season (107).
- The Astros rank 1st in the league for doubles this season (50).
- The Cardinals rank 30th in the league for strikeouts this season (111).
- The Cardinals rank T27th in the league for doubles this season (22).
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros Prediction
I’m on the Cardinals in this one. It’s the lesser of two evils for me in this game, and the fact of the matter is that the Astros need to show me more than two wins over the Colorado Rockies on the road to show me that this team is back on track. The Cardinals have the more trustworthy offense right now and I think they pick up the W here. Give me St. Louis.
