St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Betting Pick & Prediction for 4/17

MLB game preview

The St. Louis Cardinals will visit the Houston Astros for an MLB regular-season game. The game will take place at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. Fans can catch the action on SCHN at 8:10 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The Cardinals come into the game with a record of 10-8, winning their last two games. They are currently ranked fourth in the NL Central. The Astros have a record of 8-12 and are in fifth place in the AL West. They are looking to bounce back from a recent loss.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals have shown mixed results in their recent games. They secured two wins against the Cleveland Guardians, with scores of 5-3 and 6-5. In both games, they recorded a total of 17 hits and 4 home runs, highlighting their offensive potential.

Looking at their season stats, the Cardinals have a batting average of .231, ranking them 16th in the league. Their on-base percentage is .323, placing them 12th. They have hit 20 home runs, ranking 8th, showing their ability to score through power hitting.

Kyle Leahy is set to start for the Cardinals against the Houston Astros. This season, Leahy has a 5.14 ERA with a record of 1-2 and 7 strikeouts. The Cardinals will rely on him to keep the Astros’ hitters in check and help secure another win.

Cardinals vs Astros Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros
  • Venue: Daikin Park in Houston, TX
  • Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Cardinals Moneyline +116, Astros Moneyline -139

Houston Astros Team Preview

The Houston Astros have shown a mixed performance in their recent games. They secured a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on April 15th. However, they faced a narrow 3-2 loss against the Rockies on April 16th. The team managed a total of five hits in each of these games.

In the 2026 season, the Astros’ batting has been strong. They hold a batting average of .264, ranking third in the league. Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez are key players with averages of .300 and .328, respectively. Both players have consistently contributed to the team’s runs and RBIs.

On the pitching front, Peter Lambert is set to make his debut for the Astros. The team’s overall earned run average is currently 6.01, placing them 29th in the league. Improving their pitching stats will be crucial in upcoming games. Lambert’s performance could play a significant role in turning the tide for the Astros.

BTB Betting Pick

The Astros are favored with a moneyline of -139 against the Cardinals’ +116. The Astros have a strong hitting lineup, ranking 3rd in batting average and slugging percentage. This suggests they have an advantage at the plate. The recommendation is to pick the Astros to win the game, with a projected score of Astros 6, Cardinals 4.

The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs. Both teams have struggled with pitching, as the Cardinals rank 26th in ERA and the Astros rank 29th. This indicates a high-scoring game is likely. The recommendation is to take the over on the total, with a projected total of 10 runs.