Interleague action kicks off at Busch Stadium as the New York Yankees visit the St. Louis Cardinals in a weekend showdown that could shape both clubs’ momentum. New York carries a 0.5 game lead for the final wild-card berth and sits 6.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East, pressing for a win to pivot their postseason push. Caesars lists the Yankees as -135 on the moneyline with a -1.5 run line and a total of 9. A notable betting angle is Andre Pallante over 2.5 walks allowed, a plus-money prop that leverages the Yankees high walk rate this season.

The Cardinals have scuffled offensively, ranking dead last in OPS since the All-Star break at .661, while the Yankees sit around .707 OPS, making this an edge-lite series with NYY favored to take the opener. The matchup features Luis Gil for New York and Pallante for St. Louis, presenting a contrast in early-season results and bullpen utilization that could determine who seizes early weekend control.

Fantasy and DFS angles center on Pallante’s walk-prone profile; if the Cardinals pitcher issues free passes, the Yankees’ patient approach could yield extra-base hits and RBI opportunities. Gil’s season has been tumultuous, but upside remains given the matchup against a patient lineup. The game environment favors a controlled Yankees effort with a tested bullpen to close it out, barring late-inning hiccups.

Yankees head to St. Louis for a Friday night clash, aiming to keep their Wild Card cushion as Luis Gil faces Andre Pallante in a key early-series duel. Gil’s return brings strikeout upside but a shaky 7.27 ERA in a small sample, while Pallante carries a middling 4.95 mark for the Cardinals, who’ve cooled after a Cubs series and sit 3.5 games out of a Wild Card.

Giancarlo Stanton has supplied a bright spark for NYY with a five-game hot streak (9-17, 2 HR, 6 RBI) as the Yankees lean on power to back Gil. St. Louis, fighting to right things, needs clean innings from Pallante and a bullpen bridge to keep this one close. NBC Sports’ modeling nudges toward Yankees on the moneyline and the over, reflecting a game likely rich in offense.

Friday’s MLB HR props spotlight four strong value plays: Reynolds, Rodríguez, Stanton, and Rooker. Reynolds carries a +500 shot at OVER 0.5 HR in a day game at Wrigley against Colin Rea, riding a streak of multi-HR weeks and solid righty power metrics. Rodríguez offers a +380 line versus Manaea, backed by a hot week and elite exit velocity. Stanton is a primary favorite at +280 after a timely IL return and 1.107 OPS over 21 days, facing Pallante in hot Busch Stadium conditions. Rooker checks in at +260 against Kikuchi, benefiting from his solid 1.017 OPS vs lefties and strong home power. Odds areDraftKings snapshots, but value gaps exist across sportsbooks for round robins.

Strategy hinges on batted-ball data, splits, weather, and park factors. Reynolds leans on right-handed pitching with power upside; Rodríguez thrives against lefties and in Mariners lineups; Stanton’s power profile and opponent matchup elevate his ceiling; Rooker’s lefty-friendly splits and home advantage boost his HR probability. This quartet provides upside without overpaying, ideal for multi-leg bets and balanced round robins. Shop for best odds to maximize the upside of each call.

The St. Louis Cardinals face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, both teams battling for a crucial series win amidst struggling performances lately. The Cardinals, with a record of 51-46, have won only one out of their last four series, but they did sweep the Diamondbacks earlier this season, bringing a glimmer of hope. Their starting pitcher, Andre Pallante, holds a 5-5 record with a 4.49 ERA. Conversely, Brandon Pfaadt for Arizona, boasts a 9-6 record and a 5.16 ERA, showing some resilience of late.

Both teams find themselves on a similar trajectory, with the Diamondbacks at 47-50 and slightly behind in the race for the National League Wild Card spot. This matchup is critical as the Cardinals look to close the gap on the Wild Card, sitting 1.5 games back. The betting odds favor the Diamondbacks at -130, but the Cardinals are backed by the modeling tools with a recommended play on the moneyline. With the potential for runs, the over on the total of 8 runs seems a plausible bet as well.

In a strategic adjustment to their pitching rotation, Sonny Gray will now start for the St. Louis Cardinals in the series opener against the Washington Nationals. This change pushes Andre Pallante to Wednesday's game, after Gray has had five days of rest since his last outing against the Pirates. This adjustment is primarily to ensure Gray can pitch against the Braves in the final game before the All-Star Break. Meanwhile, Pallante, fresh off a seven-inning scoreless performance, will be well-rested for his start.

As Miles Mikolas continues to hold on to his spot despite recent struggles, he is set to pitch the series finale on Thursday, potentially facing scrutiny due to his performance, which has seen him allow 14 runs, including six home runs in his last two starts. For the upcoming weekend series against the Braves, Matthew Liberatore is expected to pitch on Friday, and the Cardinals are still determining whether Erick Fedde or Michael McGreevy will take the mound on Saturday. Fedde's recent performance has raised concerns, as he has not lasted beyond the second inning in his last start.