Cards’ Garcia gets another shot at redemption
The Cardinals have endured a profoundly disappointing season at home. But can they do enough in the final week of the regular campaign to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year?
Mike Matheny’s crew opens a four-game set vs. the Reds tonight, with an 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch at Busch Stadium. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv lean toward St. Louis, whereas Cincinnati enters as a +195 underdog. The over/under run total sits at 8.5.
Despite having just dropped two of three to the Cubs, the Redbirds begin this evening’s action barely behind San Francisco for the National League’s second wild card. Yet overcome the Giants – and Mets – the Central Division stalwarts must find a way to reverse their fortunes in the Gateway City. A 33-41 mark simply tells the story of a wildly inconsistent campaign.
Jaime Garcia certainly falls into the same category. The lefty’s about to receive his first start since Sept. 13. He’s been positively brutal in the second half, going 4-6 with a 5.43 ERA over his last 14 appearances.
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Bryan Price answers with rookie Tim Adelman. The Staten Island native suffered a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Cards only three weeks ago. Most recently, though, he held the Cubbies to two runs in 6 1/3 frames.
Cincy’s had nothing for which to play for a while. How the club looks on its last trip, however, could reveal a lot about the skipper’s chances of returning in 2017. Perhaps against our better judgment, we expect Garcia to reclaim some of his old Busch magic in a few hours.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS -1.5