Cardinals engage Cubs in critical series
The Cardinals’ continued lethargic play at Busch Stadium has caused them to slip a half-game behind the Mets in the NL wild-card race. Yet Mike Matheny’s team carries added incentive to stave off the visiting Cubs this week.
With a sweep, Chicago would clinch the division title on the Redbirds’ home turf. Mike Leake, though, merely wants to focus on doing his job in the series opener. The righty confronts Joe Maddon’s wickedly talented lineup tonight, with an 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch in the Gateway City.
According to oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv, the Cubbies are 1.5-run favorites here. St. Louis, on the other hand, represents a +140 underdog. The over/under run total rests at eight.
While Leake (9-9, 4.61 ERA) seeks a win for the first time this month, his adversary on the mound continues to pick them up left and right. Kyle Hendricks’ breakthrough campaign has made Maddon’s rotation impossibly deep. Most recently, the sinker specialist
In roughly 12 hours, he’ll try to hold down a Cardinals squad that leads the senior circuit with 204 homers. Two of Matheny’s biggest bashers, however, are scuffling at the moment. Jedd Gyorko and Brandon Moss have combined to go 9 for 88 in September.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats
Those two, along with leadoff man Matt Carpenter (.227 batting average over his past 12 contests) are bound to return to prominence sooner rather than later. Just don’t expect Kendricks to suddenly start serving up meatballs. In the end, we’re looking at a low-scoring rivalry affair.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS +1.5