Cards to drop hammer on Dodgers in opener?
The Cardinals have already had loads of fun during their trip out West, but will the ride end at Chavez Ravine?
Fresh off a three-game sweep of the moribund Angels, St. Louis aims to stay hot in tonight’s series opener against the Dodgers. Oddsmakers at online sports book prefer the hosts here, whereas Mike Matheny’s club enters as a 1.5-run underdog. The over/under run total rests at 7.5.
Eighteen hours ago, the Cards staged an offensive clinic, banging out base knocks in a 12-10 victory. Longtime No. 3 hitter Matt Holliday banged out a pair of homers, while leadoff man Matt Carpenter added another. The Redbirds are now averaging 7.2 runs and batting .323 during a 4-1 stretch.
This evening’s opposing hurler, however, isn’t a soft-tossing lefty like Hector Santiago or the junk-twirling Jered Weaver. Dave Roberts instead sends rookie Ross Stripling to the mound, whose 0-2 record belies a rock-solid debut month in the majors. The righty started May by surrendering a run and a hit in a 4-2 win in Toronto.
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Los Angeles (18-17) just salvaged a split vs. the Mets, and yet the lineup remains maddeningly inconsistent. For every Adrian Gonzalez (.287 average with three blasts and 18 RBIs), there’s a Yasiel Puig (3 for 24 since May 7). At least second baseman Chase Utley appears to be staving off Father Time with aplomb.
The whole gang will attempt to rough up Michael Wacha (2-3, 3.12 ERA) beginning at 10:10 p.m. ET. The St. Louis hurler has dropped three consecutive starts despite a 3.43 ERA. Needless to say, it’s been arduous follow-up to a year in which he racked up 17 triumphs in 30 appearances.
As a squad, the Cardinals (19-16) are taking markedly better at-bats at the moment. While Stripling may present issues for a few innings, expect the visitors to catch before too long. On the other hand, Wacha should stay quite low in the zone and flummox the Dodgers to no end.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS +1.5
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