Kenny G said to "slam" the Mets at –165, arguing the number should be closer to –200 with Miles Mikolas on the bump. Mikolas owns a 9.00 ERA and even his best start—five innings, three earned vs. Philly—left the Cardinals’ shaky 4.18 bullpen far too much work. New York counters with David Peterson (2.70 ERA), who has yet to allow more than two earned in three starts and is backed by MLB’s best relief unit (2.09 ERA). Citi Field has been kind to bettors: the Mets are 6‑1 at home and 14‑5 to the under, largely because that pen slams doors. Offensively, Pete Alonso is raking (.343, 5 HR, 21 RBI) and Francisco Lindor just drove in two more in the series opener, while St. Louis has fallen to 1‑6 on the road. Kenny expects New York to control the game wire‑to‑wire and cash the chalk.

Bettor Mark clearly advocated fading Miles Mikolas, whose ERA is notably high (11.25), expressing concerns over Mikolas' poor performance on the mound. Mark likes the Phillies' potent offense but noted the Cardinals' own strong presence at the plate, ranking near the top-five in multiple offensive categories. Because of this combination—Phillies' offensive strength against a struggling Cardinals pitcher and the Cardinals' batting potential—he confidently recommended betting the full-game total (7.5) over, believing both teams can contribute adequately to the run total.

Kenny G recommended fading Miles Mikolas in this matchup against the Phillies after a shockingly bad previous start against the Red Sox. Mikolas allowed 11 hits, 9 runs (8 earned) in just 2 2/3 innings without conceding a single home run, meaning batters consistently teed off against him. Kenny highlighted concerns about Mikolas' age (36) and form, combined with a struggling Cardinals bullpen (4.76 ERA). Even though St. Louis' offense currently ranks top-three in runs scored, batting average, and OBP—Kenny still advised against backing them here due to Mikolas' volatility and the inconsistent pitching overall. Instead, he identified taking the over 7.5 runs as the smarter play given struggles from both starters and bullpens involved.

Scott Reichel advised taking Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 at plus-money largely due to fading Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas, whom he noted they have been consistently fading on the show for years. Mikolas currently has an ERA over 11 and St. Louis has struggled badly lately, going 2-8 in their past 10 games with consistently poor pitching. Cristopher Sanchez, on the other side, has been good despite allowing recent home runs, winning five straight starts dating back to the previous season. Reichel emphasized Mikolas's poor form and sees value betting Phillies run line at favorable odds.

Kyle Purviance strongly advised fading Miles Mikolas against the Phillies. He underscored significant Phillies batter-versus-pitcher success against Mikolas, detailed several Phillies hitters' excellent history including Trea Turner's .320 average (8-25, 3 doubles), Bryce Harper's .348 average with multiple homers, Alec Bohm hitting .500 with a homer, and Castellanos’ two prior home runs. He particularly highlighted Mikolas' poor performance early in the season, characterizing the matchup as ideal for Phillies run lines, batter props, and Mikolas' strikeout unders, projecting the line would stretch closer to -200 later in the year.