Dodgers try to jump on Cards’ rookie pitcher
St. Louis has played a lot of baseball lately, with largely positive results. The effect of so many contests over the past week, though, could turn deadly tonight.
Manager Mike Matheny will send the untested Mike Mayers to pitch the rubber match of the Cardinals’ weekend series vs. the Dodgers. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv aren’t buying the 24-year-old righty, giving the visitors odds of -140 to prevail. The Redbirds enter as +130 underdogs.
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Mayers is set to make his MLB debut out of necessity. Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep of the Padres ensured that the Cards would have to venture outside of their regular starting five for the first time in 2016. In nine assignments at the Class AAA level, Mayers went 3-3 with a 2.94 ERA.
Some probably question why St. Louis didn’t simply summon top prospect Alex Reyes for a Busch Stadium cameo. In actuality, however, Mayers provides a surer thin from an economical standpoint. The Ole Miss product worked into at least the sixth in 14 of his 18 starts between Springfield and Memphis, whereas Reyes’ faulty command occasionally sabotages that 100 mph heater.
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Mayers stands to face a Los Angeles lineup that torched Mike Leake roughly 20 hours ago. Adrian Gonzalez ripped a deep blast to support Kenta Maeda, who emerged victorious despite not bringing his Grade A stuff. Scott Kazmir draws the nod shortly, and he’s aiming to muzzle the Cards all over again. The lefty came within an out of a complete game on May 14, guiding Dave Roberts’ guys to a 5-3 verdict on the West Coast.
St. Louis desperately wants to its homestand at 7-3. The inherent risk of deploying Mayers in a national setting, however, causes a lot of hand-wringing for us. Lean toward Los Angeles to spoil the kid’s big moment.
SUNDAY MLB FREE PICK: DODGERS -1.5
