On Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers (37-24) face off against the St. Louis Cardinals (33-27) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

St. Louis comes into this matchup on a two-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games prior to their last two games against Kansas City. In their 10-7 defeat against the Kansas City Royals, Alec Burleson had a standout performance for the Cardinals, collecting three hits in four at-bats—including a home run—while driving in two runs and crossing the plate twice himself. Looking at the Cardinals' season so far, Lars Nootbaar has emerged as the team's top power hitter, leading the club with eight home runs. The next best are Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Masyn Winn, each contributing six home runs to the team's tally. Willson Contreras also stands out as the Cardinals’ most productive batter with runners on base, as he leads the team with 32 RBIs. When it comes to consistency at the plate, Brendan Donovan tops the lineup, posting a team-best .321 batting average this year. Defensively, the Cardinals have had their struggles lately. Over their last five games, they've surrendered an average of 6.6 runs per contest. This stretch has contributed to them falling five games behind the Cubs, who currently lead the NL Central division. St. Louis didn’t have the strongest start to their season, but after getting hot and stringing some wins together, the team now finds itself in a bit of a slump. As they prepare for a challenging series against the high-powered Dodgers, the Cardinals are hoping to regain their momentum. Overall, the Cardinals’ offense is averaging 4.7 runs per game so far this season.

Los Angeles enters this game on a one-game winning streak and have won three of their last five games prior to their last two games against the Mets. During their dramatic 6-5 extra-innings victory over the Mets, Max Muncy had an outstanding night at the plate, going 2-for-4 and blasting two home runs. He crossed the plate twice himself and drove in three runs, helping to propel the Dodgers to the win. So far this season, Shohei Ohtani has been Los Angeles’ top power hitter, leading the team with 23 home runs. Right behind him, rookie Andy Pages has contributed 11 home runs, making him the team’s second-best in that category. When it comes to driving in runs, Teoscar Hernández has been the Dodgers' most reliable run producer, racking up 42 RBIs to lead the club. On the batting average front, Freddie Freeman stands out with a remarkable .369 average, the highest on the team. Offensively, the Dodgers have been firing on all cylinders in recent games, scoring an average of 7.6 runs over their last five contests. This strong stretch has helped them maintain a slim lead—just one game—over the second-place San Diego Padres in the NL West division race. Next, Los Angeles is set to travel and take on the Cardinals, aiming to continue their hot hitting. As a whole, the Dodgers have been one of the league’s most dangerous lineups, averaging 5.8 runs per game this season. Their consistent offensive firepower remains a major reason they sit atop their division.

NBA Best Bets and Odds for June 5, 2025