Yankees vs. Cardinals prediction: MLB odds, picks, bets for Saturday

The Yankees will give their top pitching prospect another kick at the can following a disastrous start approximately one week ago. 

Will Warren was knocked all over the ball field by the rudderless Rockies for five earned runs before getting yanked after three innings. 

Saturday’s home matinee versus St. Louis will be Warren’s fifth start in the majors.

While the rookie grasps the ropes, the Yankees retain favored odds over a Cardinals club punching its way to stay above .500. 

Kyle Gibson opposes him with 1,819 more innings of big league experience, but 2024 has been no career season for the veteran.

The right-hander is also reeling from a wacky loss where he was blasted for seven runs in a split series against the formidable Padres. 

Gibson, who was signed by the Cardinals with high hopes in the offseason, hasn’t earned a win since July 7. He’s gone 0-3 since, sporting a 5.86 ERA with command issues that come and go. 

For what it might be worth, while the Yankees may be operating on a more functional level this year — at least in the abstract — Gibson challenged them with a 2.77 ERA over two long outings in 2023. 

With five of his seven wins having been achieved on the road, his splits reflect he’s more comfortable pitching elsewhere since arriving in St. Louis last offseason: Gibson strikes out almost three more hitters per nine innings away than he does at home. 

Yes, St. Louis is outmatched by the Yankees elite power hitting and run production.

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But they’ve covered the run line as road underdogs over a 44 percent rate. 

Take the safe route and look for Gibson, who’s playing for his 2025 club option, and the Cardinals to make it interesting against Warren’s early-inning struggles with keeping balls out of play. 

The play: Cardinals +1.5 (FanDuel, -137)