The Cardinals desperately need a win here.
Last game of three game set with the Brewers and are on the verge of getting swept, and maybe swept out of any playoff hopes.
Rockies are playing like a team possessed, dismantled the Phillies last night and have grabbed (for the time being) the final wild card spot by a mere 1/2 game.
I expect the Rox to waylay the Phillies tonight as the Phils magic season fizzled out.
Game line there is Rockies -195, and I don't lay anything that high.
Marquez should cruise tonight in that game. Back to the Card game.
Game line there is Brewers -108 / Cards -102, (or man to man pick 'em if you will)
Both pitchers are five and fly types.
Cards start long reliever/spot starter Ron Gant.
Brews start Colorado Rockies castoff Jhouls Chacin, who considering it was hitters paradise there at Coors had three stellar seasons pitching there in five full seasons. Then he had a cup of coffee with the Diamondbacks, the Chacin went to the Angles for a full season and stunk it up, last year pitching for the Padres won 13 for a no run support team, and his rest of the numbers last year were better than league average.
Tonight Chacin enters the game making his 34th start for the Brewers, which is a rarity these days, meaning he made every start this season not missing a turn. Has won 14 games, has a better that league average ERA of 3.61, and a much better than league average WH/IP ratio of 1.20
Chacin's problem this year he needs 90 or so pitches just to get to the seventh inning.
Opposing hitters must foul him off a lot, he gives up 2.8 walks per nine (tad high) but not alarming, gave up only 151 hits in 182 innings which is pretty good, and 17 HR's allowed is very good for 2018.
Cardinals pin their hopes tonight with John Gant, like I said is a long reliever / spot starter type.
Gant's been bloody awful lately, this is his fifth September start, previous four starts never making 7 full innings, and 3 out the 4 previous start never making five full innings. Has given up 17 hits, 13 walks in 16 innings and that's across 4 starts. Overall Gant is 7 and 9 with rather pedestrian 3.53 ERA and a WH/IP ratio of 1.29 His feature pitch is a 93 mph 2 seam fastball and Brewer bats can smack heaters.
So, I'm expecting just like last night's game, both pitchers leaving early, Chacin going deeper in the game with the better starter, Brewers bullpen still is better than the Cards 'pen (by almost a full run).
Chacin has been steady all season, Gant has been trending downward and that's being kind.
Brewers have the better starter, better bullpen, hotter bats, Cardinals seems gassed but not from lack of effort.
I expect tonight's game to wind up just like last night's game.
Brewers -108 2*