GAME 1
The Cardinals will head to Florida to kick off their six game road trip. St Louis trails their division rivals, the Cincinnati Reds by only a half a game in the NL Central and look to keep it close as they send Adam Wainwright to the hill. Wainwright has been their best pitcher at home, But the road has been a different story for the right hander as he holds a 4-6 road record, In his last road start the ACE was touched up for 6 runs off 6 hits against the Mets. The Cardinals have dropped 7 of his 11 trips on the road this season, but it hasn't been a great road season for St. Louis either as they post a 22-30 record in hostile territory. St Louis has done well against teams with losing records since the All-Star break with an 8-5 record and have been in great shape against right handers this season posting a 38-32 record in this situation. the Cardinals will try for their eighth consecutive series victory at Florida, where they're 16-6 since the start of 2003. Wainwright has a 3-1 lifetime record in 5 career starts against the Fish.
The Marlins are coming off a game against the Phillies that should have been a victory, but with no instant replay for the umpires to review this will continue to happen and plague teams who need these wins. Ricky Nolasco will be the opposing pitcher for the Marlins. He should be a great contender for the Cards to oppose. He has pitched well this season posting a 12-7 record with a 4.28 ERA. Nolasco has gone 7-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last eight outings, striking out 64 in 56 innings over that span, but home feild has not exacally benifited the right-hander where he is 4-5 with an ERA at almost 5.00. The Fish have dropped 6 of his 10 starts their. The right-hander, however, has never beaten the Cardinals, going 0-2 with a 5.92 ERA in five appearances -- four starts. Matt Holliday is 7 for 11 with two homers against Nolasco, while Albert Pujols is 6 for 12 with three doubles and a homer. Florida has struggled to find offense during its four-game losing streak, totaling 11 runs while matching its longest skid of the season not too mention their bullpen is tired s they have thrown 3 straight games totaling 4+ innings each time. No doubt Nolasco can pitch but he has no offense for support and a tired bullpen who has not been at it top quality this season posting a 52% chance of a save in this opportunity (at home). recording 11 out of 21 saves.
In order for Florida to win this game Nolasco will have to pitch perfectly and with the history Holliday and Puljos have against him not going to happen, backing the Cardinals here.
ST LOUIS CARDINALS -120
GAME 2
The Astros had their seven-game win streak halted with an 8-4 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday. Their surge included a three-game sweep of Milwaukee last weekend, during which they outscored the Brewers 16-2. Now Houston will look to pick up where they left off as Wandy Rodriquez takes the hill for the Astros. Rodriquez has not been the best pitcher on the road this season posting a 3-6 road record with an ERA of 5.97, But he has made an incrdible turn around over his last 3 starts posting a 3-0 record with an unhittable ERA of .86. The last time Rodriquez pitched against the Brewers he tossed a gem in that series, scattering five hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings of a 6-0win Saturday. The left-hander was nearly as impressive in his previous start against the Brewers on June 30 at Miller Park, yielding one run while striking out six in seven innings of a 5-1 victory. Rodriguez has gone 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA in eight overall starts against Milwaukee, allowing one or no earned runs in six of them. He has been even better lately, winning six of seven starts with a 1.91 ERA. He's pitched 15 straight scoreless innings over his last two games, three shy of his personal record set from July 2-21, 2009. Rodriquez is 7-6 lifetime against the Brewers but is 2-0 in both starts this year with an ERA of .60. Houston has batted .320 with eight homers while outscoring opponents 61-20 over the last eight games. It's a much-needed hot streak for a club that is among the worst hitting teams in baseball, as the Astros have a .245 average, 411 runs, a .304 on-base percentage and a .363 slugging percentage.
The Brewers also enter this series having lost six of eight and are coming off a 15-3 loss at Chicago on Wednesday. Dave Bush (5-9, 4.55) is scheduled to oppose Rodriguez for the third time this season. The right-hander was victimized by the Astros' lineup Saturday, giving up six runs and a season high-tying 10 hits in five innings to lose for the third time in four starts. He has a 6.43 ERA in that span. The Brewers have lost 5 of his 11 home starts this year and it has not been a road to improvement over his last 3 starts as he has a 1-2 record with an ERA of almost 8.00. Bush has done well against the Astros in his career posting a 6-3 record but he has an 0-2 record in his 2 starts against Houston with a 4.50 ERA. Bush has not been the pitcher he once was in the past. I like th Astros to get back on track here As their bullpen has been in great shape posting 13 out 16 sae opportunities and an 8-5 record on the road.
3* HOUSTON ASTROS +117
GAME 3
Matt Garza (11-5, 4.11) will start for the Rays after giving up four runs and five hits -- all for extra bases -- in seven innings of a 5-4 loss to New York on Saturday. Garza, who did not get the decision, was making his first outing since throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history July 26. The right-hander hasn't had any success versus Toronto this year, recording a 6.35 ERA in losing both outings.The Rays, who have not lost three consecutive games since June 20-23, are hoping to get back on track against a Toronto team they're 6-3 against this year.
The Blue Jays (56-52) are returning home after taking two of three at Yankee Stadium but also being on the wrong end of history. Cecil will counter Garza. Cecil allowed one run while throwing a career-high 114 pitches in a 2-1 win over Cleveland on Saturday, not getting the decision. That's been the story lately for Cecil, who recorded a 2.23 ERA in five July starts but went 1-0.The left-hander has posted a 3.38 ERA in winning both starts against the Rays this season. Dispite not getting a decision in his last 3 starts, Cecil has a great last 3 ERA of 2.77. The thing with the Rays today is when they are winning, they in games, but when in a funk they seem to stay in a funk and Garza dispite his complete game, he has been about as iconsistant as they come. His record is 11-5 and the Rays are 13-8 in all of his starts this season.
He has a 5-3 road record but an ERA of 4.48. Toronto has the better pitcher to hold the Rays at bay today.
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