2022 MLB playoffs: Cardinals vs. Phillies odds, Wild Card Series Game 2 picks, predictions by proven model

SportsLine's model simulated the second wild-card game between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals 10,000 times

By CBS Sports Staff

Oct 8, 2022 at 1:00 pm ET • 2 min read

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After an 11-year absence from the postseason, it took just one game for the Philadelphia Phillies to produce a memorable moment in the 2022 MLB playoffs. The Phillies exploded for six runs in the ninth inning on their way to a 6-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series on Friday. The Cardinals, winners of the NL Central, will look to stay alive in this best-of-three series in Game 2 on Saturday. Miles Mikolas (12-13, 3.29 ERA) will start for St. Louis while Philadelphia will send Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 to the hill.

First pitch from Busch Stadium is set for 8:37 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as the -125 favorite (risk $125 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Phillies vs. Cardinals odds. The over/under for total runs is set at 6.5. Before making any Cardinals vs. Phillies picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, and it entered the final week of the regular season on an 18-8 run on top-rated money-line MLB picks, returning almost $700 for $100 players. This is the same model that pegged the 2021 Atlanta Braves at 10-1 as one of three best bets to win it all last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cardinals vs. Phillies and revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's MLB picks. Here are several MLB odds and trends for Phillies vs. Cardinals:

Phillies vs. Cardinals money line: St. Louis +105, Philadelphia -125
Phillies vs. Cardinals over-under: 6.5 runs
Phillies vs. Cardinals run line: Cardinals -1.5 (+143)
PHI: The Phillies are 5-3 against the Cardinals this season
STL: The Cardinals returned +792 on the money line at home this season
Phillies vs. Cardinals picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Cardinals

St. Louis has its back against the wall, but the Cardinals have been great at home this season. They went 53-29 at home and even had a record above .500 as home underdogs. Mikolas was 10-4 at home this season with a 2.38 ERA.

The Cardinals have one of the best 1-2 hitting punches in the league in Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt hit .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBI. Arenado hit .293 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI. Albert Pujols turned back the clock late in the season as he surpassed 700 career home runs.

Why you should back the Phillies

Nola has thrown some gems late in the season. He had a 2.93 ERA in September and gave up no earned runs in three of his last five starts. Philadelphia has a 5-3 record on the season against St. Louis, so the Phillies have confidence they can end this series in Game 2.

Rhys Hoskins, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto all have a lot of power and this offense showed the ability to score in bunches when it put six on the board in the ninth inning on Friday.