The Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals continue their four game set tonight with a game two clash at Busch Stadium. This evening’s contest is scheduled to get underway at 8:15pm ET. MLB Free Picks and Odds at 5Dimes have the Cardinals listed as a -152 moneyline favorite ($152 wins $100) and the Over/Under set at eight runs (Under is favored at -120 odds). The Diamondbacks are drawing +142 odds ($100 wins $142) to win tonight’s game and even the series at a game apiece.
St. Louis had its way with Diamondbacks pitchers last night as it cranked out 14 hits en route to an easy 7-1 series opening win. The Cardinals got three hits from both Matt Carpenter and Carlos Beltran while Yadier Molina, David Freese, and Allen Craig each had two hits in the victory.
St. Louis lineup will look to do the same tonight against 21 year old left-hander Tyler Skaggs. Skaggs, who is making his second start of the season, was brilliant in his last outing, limiting the Rangers to three hits and zero runs in a 5-3 Diamondbacks win. Skaggs also struck out nine Texas batters in just six innings of work.
In six starts last year Skaggs posted a 1-3 record, 5.83 ERA, and 1.47 WHIP. He allowed 30 hits and 19 earned runs over 29.1 innings.
The Cardinals will chase a league best 39th win tonight with rookie hurler Michael Wacha on the hill. Wacha made his major league debut last Thursday at Busch Stadium but he did not get the win despite limiting the Royals to two hits and one earned run over seven innings. Kansas City plated three runners in the ninth to get a 4-2 win, thus robbing Wacha of the victory.
St. Louis has won seven of the last 10 meetings between these two teams and it is 5-1 in its last six games opposite Arizona at Busch Stadium.
Notable Trends: The Over is 5-1 in the Cardinals last six games as a home favorite against a left handed pitcher with a moneyline spread between 140 and 160.
Arizona Diamondbacks +1.5 (-160), Over 8 (+100), +142 (Moneyline)
St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+140), Under 8 (-120), -152 (Moneyline)
Baseball Betting Tips from Chuck Edel & Johnny Detroit
Chuck Edel is a well respected gambler / handicapper who appears on numerous radio shows and is frequently featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal. He sits down with Johnny Detroit and goes over some of his personal MLB betting tips.