D-backs, Cards kick off four-game set in desert
Zack Greinke bombed spectacularly in his first two starts as a Diamondback. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, he seems to be rounding back into Cy Young-worthy form.
Arizona hosts St. Louis tonight in the opener of a four-game series, with a 9:40 p.m. ET first pitch at Chase Field. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI lean toward Grienke’s D-backs as 1.5-run favorites. The over/under total rests at 7.5 runs.
Last year’s 19-game winner began his Arizona career by getting walloped for at least four runs in back-to-back outings. His last two assignments, however, have yielded just three runs and 12 hits from the opposition. Greinke’s also fanned 12 over the past 14 innings.
This evening’s counterpart is a formidable one. Jaime Garcia has won all five of his starts vs. the Diamondbacks (10-10), compiling a 2.51 ERA in the process. The lefty most recently struck out seven in dropping a 2-1 decision to the Cubs.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
We’re really interested to see if Greinke’s history of muzzling the Cards continues here. St. Louis (10-10) plated 19 runs and batted .370 while taking the last two its three-game weekend set in San Diego. But very few Redbirds tend to touch up the three-time All-Star, whose track record against the organization includes a 5-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Garcia should give him a sterling test in the desert. Nonetheless, bet on Arizona to snap an eight-game losing streak to the perennial Central Division front-runners.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS/DIAMONDBACKS UNDER 7.5 RUNS
Want More From TheSpread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!