SCOTT SPREITZER
I'm recommending a play on the Cardinals on Sunday. Matt Carpenter is beginning to heat-up, including yesterday's game winning homer in the bottom of the 9th. The Bucs have to be a little stunned after yesterday's results and after getting hammered by the Cubs before the weekend series with the Redbirds. Today, they'll face Cardinal hurler Michael Wacha. The right-hander has helped his team to a 21-7 record in his last 28 starts at Busch Stadium. Wacha is putting up top-shelf numbers in 2016 and will be backed by an offense that ranks 4th, 4th, and 1st, in team batting average, OBP, and OPS against right-handed pitchers. Wacha has allowed just four earned runs and 15 base runners with 17 strikeouts in his last two starts, spanning 15 innings, yet the Cards didn't score a single run in either game. But with the way they're hitting righties and with Carpenter heating up, I do believe they'll give Wacha enough support against Gerrit Cole. St. Louis has made a habit of beating overused bullpens, those averaging at least 4 IP per game, going 72-33 and averaging 5 rpg the last 105 times. Pittsburgh's pen fits the bill. We'll back the Cardinals as they look to extend their run as home chalk to 63-28. I'm recommending a play on the Cardinals on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
I'm recommending a play on the Cardinals on Sunday. Matt Carpenter is beginning to heat-up, including yesterday's game winning homer in the bottom of the 9th. The Bucs have to be a little stunned after yesterday's results and after getting hammered by the Cubs before the weekend series with the Redbirds. Today, they'll face Cardinal hurler Michael Wacha. The right-hander has helped his team to a 21-7 record in his last 28 starts at Busch Stadium. Wacha is putting up top-shelf numbers in 2016 and will be backed by an offense that ranks 4th, 4th, and 1st, in team batting average, OBP, and OPS against right-handed pitchers. Wacha has allowed just four earned runs and 15 base runners with 17 strikeouts in his last two starts, spanning 15 innings, yet the Cards didn't score a single run in either game. But with the way they're hitting righties and with Carpenter heating up, I do believe they'll give Wacha enough support against Gerrit Cole. St. Louis has made a habit of beating overused bullpens, those averaging at least 4 IP per game, going 72-33 and averaging 5 rpg the last 105 times. Pittsburgh's pen fits the bill. We'll back the Cardinals as they look to extend their run as home chalk to 63-28. I'm recommending a play on the Cardinals on Sunday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.