The set-up: The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series in Philadelphia against the Phillies on Friday, currently holding down the NL's second wild card spot (Pirates are one game behind and the Marlins 2 1/2 games back). The 57-65 Phillies are out of postseason consideration at eight games back but have won five of their last seven, plus have been competitive all season long, ranking 4th in the moneyline standings at plus-$748. In contrast, the 64-56 Cards are minus-$83 vs. the moneyline.

The pitching matchup: Adam Wainwright (9-7, 4.72 ERA) gets the nod for the Cards, opposed by Philly's Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.62 ERA). Wainwright is winless in his last five outings plus comes off the shortest start of his career in his last time out, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks in just two innings of a 13-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Philadelphia's Morgan knows all about struggling. He's 1-7 with a 6.62 ERA in his second MLB season, with the Phillies going 3-10 in all of his starts (minus-$767). He hasn't won since beating the Braves for his lone victory of 2016 back on May 10.

Morgan has gone 0-7 with a 7.46 ERA over 12 starts (team is 2-10), a drought interrupted by a stint at Triple-A. He went 5-0 at Lehigh Valley, which is why he was recalled in mid-August. He was forced to leave his start last Sunday against Colorado after three innings when he was hit on the elbow by a line drive off the bat of Nick Hundley. Morgan reported no ill effects and gets the call here. Wainwright is 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 13 career outings against Phillies, including 11 starts (team is 7-4). The Cards are a MLB-best 36-23 on the road overall, along with owning the top road moneyline mark at plus-$1676. The Cards are a 10* play.