MLB Betting – Cardinals, Brewers Battle At Miller Park

The St. Louis Cardinals just finished one N.L. Central series in Cincinnati. They’ll begin another divisional series Friday night when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers.

MLB Game Odds:
St. Louis Cardinals -110
Kyle Lohse – R

Milwaukee Brewers -110
Dave Bush – R

Run Line:
Cardinals -1.5 +150
Brewers +1.5 -170

Total:
9.5 O EVEN
9.5 U -120

Location: Miller Park – Milwaukee, WI
Game Time: Friday April 9, 2010 8:10 pm EST
TV: Regional/local cable

The Week That Was: Cardinals

The defending National League Central champions produced a good start to their season in Cincinnati by taking two out of three games from the Reds. In Monday’s season opener, the Cards decked Cincinnati, 11-6, as the Redbirds crushed four home runs in support of starter Chris Carptenter, who pitched six solid innings and gave up only two runs. Albert Pujols – arguably the best player in all of Major League Baseball – homered in each of his first two at-bats to power the Cardinals.

On Wednesday, St. Louis topped the Reds, 6-3, as pitcher Adam Wainwright surrendered only three hits in seven strong innings. Pujols and big-hitting teammate Matt Holliday – who will be united for an entire season in 2010 – produced back-to-back run-scoring hits in a four-run seventh that broke the game open for the Cards.

On Thursday, Cincinnati avoided a sweep by nudging the Redbirds, 2-1. Jonny Gomes hit a walk-off solo homer off St. Louis reliever Jason Motte in the bottom of the ninth. Cardinal starter Brad Penny excelled, giving up only one run in seven innings of work.

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The Week That Was: Brewers

The Brewers had an excellent beginning to their 2010 campaign, taking two of three games from the Colorado Rockies at home.

Manager Ken Macha’s men lost on Opening Day to the Rockies, falling 5-3 against Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who gave up only one run in six innings. Milwaukee went just 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Brewer pitcher Yovani Gallardo was decent, giving up four runs in seven innings, but he didn’t get enough run support on Monday afternoon.

The Brewers’ bats woke up the next two games, as they rallied to win their first series of 2010. On Tuesday, Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf was okay, but hardly spectacular. The new acquisition gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings – pretty much the same as Gallardo – but that was good enough to win because the Brewers pounded out seven runs and beat the Rockies by a 7-5 score. Casey McGehee hit a three-run homer and Prince Fielder drove in a key insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, as the Brew Crew bounced back after their Monday loss.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee swiped the rubber game from Colorado, winning 5-4 as pinch hitter Jody Gerut hit a go-ahead RBI double in a two-run sixth. The Brewers were down 4-1 after starter Doug Davis ran into continued difficulties, but a strong effort from the bullpen – six relief pitchers in all – allowed Milwaukee to make a comeback and hold onto a late lead over the final three innings. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Brewers as the set-up man in the pen, and decorated closer Trevor Hoffman pitched a spotless ninth to record his 593rd career save.

The Matchup

Kyle Lohse had a 4.74 ERA last season, while Milwaukee’s Friday night starter, Dave Bush, posted a 6.38 ERA in 2009. The advantage, based solely on a matchup of pitchers, would definitely favor St. Louis. One must also then consider the two bullpens. Milwaukee’s pen has already been extended in the first three games of the season, while the Cardinals – with their deep starting rotation – have not had to tax their relievers at all. Then there’s the small matter of Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday being in the Cardinals’ lineup. One would have a hard time picking against St. Louis in this game. Bush is going to have to deliver one of his best efforts of the entire season to beat the Cardinals. Since this is early April, one should not expect any pitcher to be in top form. Advantage, St. Louis

MLB Betting Pick: Cardinals