The St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals are tied at 1-1 in this four-game series after a 6-2 St. Louis win last night. They've won nine of the past 13 meetings at Nationals Park, and I think they're looking good to record an upset in Saturday's contest.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Cardinals hand the ball to Adam Wainwright (4-3, 5.77 ERA). The Cardinals have won each of the right-hander's last six starts and he has allowed only three runs in 12 2/3 frames in his last two turns. Wainwright owns a 7-3 mark and 2.78 ERA against Washington which counters with Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 2.87). The 30 year old southpaw is coming off his worst start of the year when he was charged with seven runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 7-1 loss against the Mets. Gonzalez served up three homers in that contest and has given up five in his past four starts.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Gonzalez has a 1.54 ERA in five starts versus St. Louis but the current members of the Cardinals are batting a combined .320 with 15 walks over 100 at bats against the left-hander. It's unrealistic to think anything but that he's extremely lucky to own that ERA while putting that many runners on base.

3. X-Factor - Cardinals are 4-0 in Wainwright's last four starts vs. Nationals.

Selection: This is a play on the St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (8*)