PREMIUM
GAME OF THE MONTH (Rogers' 10* MLB) >> EARLY! +$36,008 Run!
(MLB) Miami vs. St. Louis,
Money Line: -145.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -145.00 St. Louis (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The St. Louis Cardinals earned series wins over two of MLB's best teams, Arizona and Washington, before heading into the final week before the All-Star break with series at home against the Marlins and the Mets. Both of those teams are below .500 and the Cards hoped that a "big week" could get them to .500 (Cards opened the week three games under) by the break. However, after winning 14-6 on Monday to reach 40-42, St. Louis has dropped back-to-back games to fall to 40-44 with four games reamaining this week. Now, only four wins in a row will get St. Louis to the .500 mark by the break. Miami hit four HRs in Wednesday's 9-6 win, after Yelich hit a three-run HR to lead Tuesday's 5-2 victory. The back-to-back wins has temporarily put an end to a stretch in which the now 38-45 Marlins had lost five of seven.
The pitching matchup: Tom Koehler (1-3 & 8.33 ERA) takes the mound for Miami and Michael Wacha (5-3 & 4.16 ERA) for St. Louis. Koehler had arm troubles and was put on the DL shortly after getting ripped for eight ERs in just three innings by Houston on May 16. He made his first appearance since that time on July 1 and again was lit up for seven runs on six hits and a pair of walks in just 1 2/3 innings at Milwaukee. Koehler started against St. Louis back on May 10 but did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. It surely not good news for Miami that he's 1-3 with 7.62 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis (teams are 1-4) . Could Wacha be coming around? He's dominated in his last two starts, recording a pair of wins while allowing a total of just one run on nine hits in 12 innings (0.75 ERA). He struck out a season-high nine over six innings against Washington on Saturday while issuing one walk. Wacha has just two career starts against Miami, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA (Cards are 1-1).
The pick: Koehler has not completed six innings in any of his last five major-league appearances (Miami is 1-4 in that stretch) and on the season, he owns a 1.78 WHIP and .311 BAA to go along with his ugly 8.33 ERA. He has also surrendered 11 HRs in 40 overall innings. Then, there's his awful lifetime mark against St. Louis. With Wacha coming off back-to-back strong outings plus his 2.91 ERA in 10 home starts in 2017, what' not to like about St. Louis? Make the Cards a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Tom Koehler (1-3 & 8.33 ERA) takes the mound for Miami and Michael Wacha (5-3 & 4.16 ERA) for St. Louis. Koehler had arm troubles and was put on the DL shortly after getting ripped for eight ERs in just three innings by Houston on May 16. He made his first appearance since that time on July 1 and again was lit up for seven runs on six hits and a pair of walks in just 1 2/3 innings at Milwaukee. Koehler started against St. Louis back on May 10 but did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. It surely not good news for Miami that he's 1-3 with 7.62 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis (teams are 1-4) . Could Wacha be coming around? He's dominated in his last two starts, recording a pair of wins while allowing a total of just one run on nine hits in 12 innings (0.75 ERA). He struck out a season-high nine over six innings against Washington on Saturday while issuing one walk. Wacha has just two career starts against Miami, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA (Cards are 1-1).
The pick: Koehler has not completed six innings in any of his last five major-league appearances (Miami is 1-4 in that stretch) and on the season, he owns a 1.78 WHIP and .311 BAA to go along with his ugly 8.33 ERA. He has also surrendered 11 HRs in 40 overall innings. Then, there's his awful lifetime mark against St. Louis. With Wacha coming off back-to-back strong outings plus his 2.91 ERA in 10 home starts in 2017, what' not to like about St. Louis? Make the Cards a 10* play.
