Can Cardinals bust out against Braves?
Trying to bust out of an offensive languor, the Cardinals must return to the scene where their bats went to die last September.
St. Louis aims to shake off getting swept by the Pirates when it opens a three-game series in Atlanta at 7:35 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv anticipate that the turnaround will indeed begin at Turner Field, listing the defending NL Central champions as 1.5-run favorites.
The same venue was especially cold to Mike Matheny’s players at the tail end of 2015. They mustered 12 hits over the final 27 innings of the regular season, suffering a shutout in each of those three contests. Tonight’s hurler, Matt Wisler, has permitted two runs across 15 2/3 frames in claiming two career starts vs. the Cards.
The visitors counter with Jaime Garcia, who went 7-2 with a 2.74 ERA over his last 12 turns. Garcia’s responsible for picking up a rotation that surrendered 23 hits, seven walks and 11 earned during in Pittsburgh.
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More than anything, though, the Cardinals can’t afford to continue firing blanks on the rare occasions when men reach base. They’re batting .136 with runners in scoring position, and the culprits range from Matt Carpenter (.090 average) to Matt Holliday (.100).
All the while, the organization preaches patience. It’s hard to envision an explosion against Wisler, but the Braves have endured a similarly miserable start. If Garcia stays away from Freddie Freeman, who boasts two career homers off the southpaw, at least St. Louis’ arms should get back on track.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS -1.5
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