St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions for Friday April 17 2026
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The St. Louis Cardinals travel to face the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on Friday, April 17, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM and coverage available on ESPN Unlmtd/MLB.TV. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. This matchup features two teams with similar overall records but different strengths, setting up an intriguing contest under the lights. Be sure to check out the latest free MLB picks for more insight on today’s games.
Starting Pitchers Breakdown
St. Louis will send Kyle Leahy to the mound, while Houston has not yet officially named a starting pitcher for this game. Leahy enters with a 1-2 record, a 5.14 ERA, and a 1.71 WHIP across 14.0 innings, allowing 16 hits while striking out 7 and walking 8. The Astros have not listed a starter at this time, so no statistical comparison is available from their side entering this matchup.
Cardinals Looking to Stay Competitive on the Road
St. Louis comes into this matchup with a 10-8 overall record and a 3-3 mark on the road. The Cardinals have gone 2-3 over their last five games, recently winning over Cleveland in back-to-back contests but also recently losing to Boston and dropping another game to Cleveland during that stretch.
Offensively, St. Louis is hitting .231 with 80 runs scored and 136 hits, along with 20 home runs. Their on-base percentage sits at .326 with a slugging percentage of .369. On the pitching side, the Cardinals have recorded a 4.94 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, while allowing opponents to hit .264. They have issued 71 walks and recorded 111 strikeouts.
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One concern for St. Louis has been their pitching performance. With a higher ERA and WHIP, they have struggled to consistently limit opposing offenses, which has impacted their ability to maintain leads.
Astros Leaning on Offensive Production at Home
Houston enters this game with an 8-11 record but a strong 7-2 mark at home. The Astros have gone 2-3 over their last five games, recently winning over Colorado in consecutive contests but also recently losing to Seattle multiple times before that.
At the plate, Houston has been highly productive, hitting .269 with 105 runs scored and 174 hits, along with 21 home runs. Their on-base percentage is .359 with a slugging percentage of .440. On the pitching side, the Astros have struggled, posting a 6.17 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP, while allowing opponents to hit .265. They have issued 106 walks and recorded 184 strikeouts.
A major strength for Houston has been their offensive output. With a high batting average, strong on-base percentage, and significant run production, they have consistently generated scoring opportunities, particularly at home.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Picks and Prediction
St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Pick
Pick: Houston Astros Moneyline
Houston enters this matchup with a clear edge in offensive production and has been especially strong at home with a 7-2 record. While both teams have struggled on the mound, the Astros’ ability to consistently generate runs gives them an advantage. Combined with their home performance, Houston is the more reliable side in this contest.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros Total Pick
Pick: Take the over/under if the total is set at 9
I would look toward a higher-scoring game in this matchup due to both teams showing pitching struggles. With elevated ERAs and WHIPs on both sides, along with Houston’s strong offensive production, this game has the potential to produce a solid number of runs.
Final Score Prediction: Houston Astros 6 – St. Louis Cardinals 4
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