**Cardinals at Astros**
--Most sports books are listing St. Louis (17-11, +276) as a minus 125 favorite with a total of 7 1/2 'under' (minus 120). Bettors can earn a huge payoff by backing the Cardinals on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) at plus 160.
--Houston (18-9, +683) has been a force at home, winning 13 of 17 games at Minute Maid Park. Last night was no exception with the Astros collecting a 5-4 win as minus 150 favorites. Roy Oswalt worked eight strong innings and Lance Berkman drove in three runs. Brad Lidge picked up his 10th save, but it was "sketch city" for Houston backers nonetheless. St. Louis pushed one run across against Lidge, but it left a pair of runners stranded and Pujols flied out to deep center on a blast that would've left most other parks.
--Andy Pettitte (1-4, 5.25 ERA) is looking to turn things around when he takes the ball tonight. The Astros have lost in five of their six games with Pettitte on the mound.
--Chris Carpenter (3-1, 1.80) is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three road starts this season. The right-hander has posted a 4-1 record and 2.08 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. Carpenter won all three of his assignments at Houston last year.
--St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols is just 2-for-12 (.167) against Pettitte with zero base hits. Jim Edmonds is horrible against the left-hander with just three hits in 30 at-bats for .100 average. Likewise for David Eckstein, who is 6-for-30 for a .200 average versus Pettitte.
--Both of these teams are looking up at the Reds in the NL Central standings. Houston trails by one-half game, while St. Louis is two games back.
--The 'under' is cashing at an 8-4 clip for the Cards on the road.
--The 'over' is 14-10 overall for the Astros, 9-6 in their home games
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds will not start today against Milwaukee in this "day-after-night" spot.
--Colorado RHP Josh Fogg owns a 6-1 lifetime record against tonight's opponent, Cincinnati.
--Washington RHP Livan Hernandez has been sensational against the team hed led to the 1997 World Series title. Hernandez is 10-5 with a 2.66 ERA in 20 career starts against the Marlins.
--Cleveland RHP Jason Johnson is 1-7 with a 4.67 career ERA against Oakland.
--Speaking of the Indians, they have seen the 'over' hit at an MLB-best 19-8 clip.
--How bad has Toronto RHP Josh Towers been this year? He's 0-5 with a 10.45 ERA. The Blue Jays have lost each of his assignments by two runs or more to cash tickets for bettors fading Towers on the run line.
--After last night's loss at Minnesota, the Royals are 0-12 on the road. They are plus 130 underdogs against the Twins tonight. Minny is plus 145 on the run line.
--Carlos Silva (1-4, 10.31) will get the ball for the Twins, who have seen the 'over' hit in all five of his starts.
--The 'under' has cashed in four straight Detroit games. For the year, the 'under' is 19-7 for the Tigers, the best such mark in the majors.
--The 'under' has cashed in all four of John Thomson's starts for the Braves.
--Most sports books are listing St. Louis (17-11, +276) as a minus 125 favorite with a total of 7 1/2 'under' (minus 120). Bettors can earn a huge payoff by backing the Cardinals on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) at plus 160.
--Houston (18-9, +683) has been a force at home, winning 13 of 17 games at Minute Maid Park. Last night was no exception with the Astros collecting a 5-4 win as minus 150 favorites. Roy Oswalt worked eight strong innings and Lance Berkman drove in three runs. Brad Lidge picked up his 10th save, but it was "sketch city" for Houston backers nonetheless. St. Louis pushed one run across against Lidge, but it left a pair of runners stranded and Pujols flied out to deep center on a blast that would've left most other parks.
--Andy Pettitte (1-4, 5.25 ERA) is looking to turn things around when he takes the ball tonight. The Astros have lost in five of their six games with Pettitte on the mound.
--Chris Carpenter (3-1, 1.80) is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three road starts this season. The right-hander has posted a 4-1 record and 2.08 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. Carpenter won all three of his assignments at Houston last year.
--St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols is just 2-for-12 (.167) against Pettitte with zero base hits. Jim Edmonds is horrible against the left-hander with just three hits in 30 at-bats for .100 average. Likewise for David Eckstein, who is 6-for-30 for a .200 average versus Pettitte.
--Both of these teams are looking up at the Reds in the NL Central standings. Houston trails by one-half game, while St. Louis is two games back.
--The 'under' is cashing at an 8-4 clip for the Cards on the road.
--The 'over' is 14-10 overall for the Astros, 9-6 in their home games
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds will not start today against Milwaukee in this "day-after-night" spot.
--Colorado RHP Josh Fogg owns a 6-1 lifetime record against tonight's opponent, Cincinnati.
--Washington RHP Livan Hernandez has been sensational against the team hed led to the 1997 World Series title. Hernandez is 10-5 with a 2.66 ERA in 20 career starts against the Marlins.
--Cleveland RHP Jason Johnson is 1-7 with a 4.67 career ERA against Oakland.
--Speaking of the Indians, they have seen the 'over' hit at an MLB-best 19-8 clip.
--How bad has Toronto RHP Josh Towers been this year? He's 0-5 with a 10.45 ERA. The Blue Jays have lost each of his assignments by two runs or more to cash tickets for bettors fading Towers on the run line.
--After last night's loss at Minnesota, the Royals are 0-12 on the road. They are plus 130 underdogs against the Twins tonight. Minny is plus 145 on the run line.
--Carlos Silva (1-4, 10.31) will get the ball for the Twins, who have seen the 'over' hit in all five of his starts.
--The 'under' has cashed in four straight Detroit games. For the year, the 'under' is 19-7 for the Tigers, the best such mark in the majors.
--The 'under' has cashed in all four of John Thomson's starts for the Braves.