The set-up: The Cards had four solo HRs in Monday's series opener with the Brewers but Milwaukee's Travis Shaw's three-run HR in the 10th inning gave the Brewers a 7-5 victory in the first of four games between the two Central Division rivals in St. Louis. The Brewers lead all of MLB with 47 HRs but the win gives them a modest 14-13 record to open the 2017 season while the Cards loss drops them a game under .500, to 12-13.

The pitching matchup: Wily Peralta (4-1 & 5.19 ERA) takes the mound for Milwaukee on Tuesday night, opposed by St. Louis' Carlos Martinez (0-3 & 4.71 ERA). Peralta allowed four solo HRs in his last start but won 9-4 and despite a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and opponents batting .286 against him, has won four of his five starts to open the season. Peralta has been a favorite foil of St. Louis in recent years and enters with a 4-11 career record and 5.10 ERA versus the Cardinals in 17 starts (teams are 5-12). Martinez is off seasons of 14-7 and 16-9 but saw his losing streak reach three starts on April 20, allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings of a 7-5 setback to Milwaukee. He's 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA in nine career starts vs. the Brewers, with the Cards going 6-3.

The pick: Milwaukee has struggled at Miller Park (just 7-10) but Monday's win makes them 7-3 on the road in 2017. However, as noted above, Peralta has had all sorts of trouble against the Cards in his career and was just roughed up for six runs on nine hits in four innings on April 21 in a 6-3 setback at Miller Park against them. Meanwhile, Martinez has 20 career appearances against the Brewers (see above for his starts) and owns a 1.95 ERA. Also, he may still be searching for his first win of 2017 but he has 26 Ks over his last three starts. It's time for that first win. Make St. Louis an 8* play.