Cards’ Wacha to wield hammer against Padres?
Want the definition of a feast-or-famine offense? The Cardinals certainly fit such a profile almost three weeks into the season.
St. Louis’ search for consistency continues this evening in San Diego, with a 8:40 p.m. ET first pitch at Petco Park. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lvnonetheless like the Redbirds’ chances of rebounding from a defeat in the series opener. Mike Matheny’s squad is a 1.5-run favorite here, with the contest’s over/under run total resting at 7.5.
Aside from a Randal Grichuk solo shot in the fourth inning last night, the Cards accomplished next to nothing vs. Padres righty Andrew Cashner. It continued a troubling pattern for a lineup batting just .214 in the past five games. Even worse: During the same span, St. Louis carries a .118 mark with men in scoring position. Through 12 affairs, the Cardinals had an MLB-high 85 runs – 14 more than National League Central-leading Chicago.
Matheny should feel confident, however, about handing the ball to Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.76 ERA) today. The righty’s given up just one earned run over his last two starts. In a pair of 2015 outings against San Diego, he went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA.
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Still, there’s one individual around whom Wacha must be especially careful. Former AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers is in the midst of a .444 tear, and he victimized Adam Wainwright for an absolute bomb to right-center field about 24 hours ago. The Padres’ No. 2 threat faces Wacha for the first time. But if the Redbirds are smart, they will force the rest of Andy Green’s personnel to beat the rising hurler.
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