MLB.TV Free Game of the Day Betting Picks for White Sox-Cardinals (5/3/24)

The lengthy MLB season can cause some games to get lost in the shuffle, but MLB.TV provides fans with a Free Game of the Day throughout the regular season that can also be seen on FanDuel TV+ here, or also available on Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Fire TV, and FanDuel Sportsbook.

Why not add to the viewing excitement by getting in on the MLB odds over at FanDuel Sportsbook?

For this article, we've got you covered with a betting guide for each Free Game of the Day. With that, let's take a look at some of the best bets for today's free game.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise. Please check here to make sure you're seeing the most updated projections.

MLB Betting Picks

White Sox vs. Cardinals Betting Odds: Spread, Total, and Moneyline

• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Spread: Cardinals -1.5 (-128)
• Total: 7.5
• Moneyline:
  • White Sox: +235
  • Cardinals: -290

Best Bet

White Sox Under 2.5 Runs (+100)

It's hard to imagine stooping as low as under 2.5 runs, but the Chicago White Sox (6-25) sure know how to talk us into it.

Today's Free Game of the Day features a matchup between Chicago and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The White Sox not only struggle with a league-worst record, but they also own an abysmal -84 run differential. They're averaging 2.87 runs per game (fewest) and just 2.57 runs on the road.

Chicago has scored under 2.5 runs in 16 out of 31 games this season (51.6% of contests), so there is some value in this bet before we even factor in the matchup.

Add Sonny Gray to the equation, who will make his fifth start for St. Louis this evening, and it's easy to envision another quiet night for the Chicago bats.

Gray has allowed just 3 ER through 23 1/3 IP, good for a 1.16 ERA. He's gone up against solid competition in the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers but has still struck out a whopping 32 batters.

This White Sox organization seems to fail at every turn, and hitting against righties is no exception. This season, Chicago has posted a .220 BA (fifth-worst), .282 OBP (worst), .339 SLG (second-worst), 79 wRC+ (third-worst), and .119 ISO (fourth-worst) versus right-handed pitchers.

If you can't get on base or hit for power against righties, good luck finding any success against Gray.

Since the start of 2023, Gray has been sporting a 2.60 ERA, 3.76 SIERA, 1.12 WHIP, 0.39 HR/9, 5.2% HR/FB ratio, and a solid 25.5% K%.

He's steady and consistent, but perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Gray in regard to this prop is the lack of power he lets up.

A pitcher who has managed a league-low (by a pretty wide margin) 0.39 HR/9 through 207 1/3 IP should have a field day against a team that is producing just a .339 SLG (second-worst) and .119 ISO (fourth-worst) against northpaws.

Past Gray, the Cardinals bullpen owns a 3.38 ERA, 3.32 xFIP (third-best), and 3.07 SIERA (fifth-best). Gray's leash is sitting a bit above 90 pitches, so I'd expect him to manage 6-to-7 scoreless or near-scoreless innings before the likes of Andrew Kittredge (0.75 ERA) Ryan Helsley (1.69 ERA) take over.

Best Prop

Sonny Gray 7+ Strikeouts (+134)

The 2023 AL Cy Young runner-up is averaging eight strikeouts through four starts and will now be fully unleashed in an easy matchup.

Gray opened the season on the 15-Day IL, which resulted in him throwing just 64 and 72 pitches in his first two starts. He still managed to fan five and six batters in these games, respectively.

But Gray is back to throwing without limitations. He punched out 12 batters off of 93 pitches in his third start and got the better of 9 batters off of 92 pitches in his most recent start.

This leaves him with an awesome, albeit unsustainable, 36.0% K% and 12.34 K/9. Yet he's still rocking with a 25.5% K% since the start of last season.

Chicago's league-worst on-base percentage against righties proves that Gray is in a spot to go long tonight. The Southsiders' 23.8% K% (11th-highest) could have him punching out batters left and right.

You can get Gray Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-154), but I think the alt markets are worth exploring, too.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.