The St. Louis Cardinals enter the second full week of the 2008 baseball season with a surprising 5-1 SU record. This is an accomplishment considering the top end of its starting rotation, Mark Mulder and former Cy Young ace Chris Carpenter, started the season on the disabled list. Tonight the Red Birds will attempt to get their sixth consecutive win when they open their first road trip against the Houston Astros . The Cardinals are coming off a three game sweep of the Washington Nationals in St. Louis.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodoglife.com currently have the Astros listed as 114-moneyline favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game's total is sitting at 9.
The Cardinals defeated Washington 3-0 as a -135 favorite on Sunday. The three runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9).Kyle Lohse pitched seven shutout innings for St. Louis, while Rick Ankiel was 2-4 with a home run and two RBI in the win.
The Astros lost to the Cubs 3-2 as a +185 underdog on Sunday. The five runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9).Brandon Backe allowed two runs on six hits over six innings to earn a no-decision for Houston, while, Michael Tejada hit a solo home run.
Monday’s starting pitcher for St. Louis will be Todd Wellemeyer (1-0). The big right handed thrower Wellemeyer will be looking for his second win of the season after a disastrous 2007 campaign when he finished the season with the fifth worst ERA in the majors. In his first start last week against the Rockies, Wellemeyer pitched five innings allowing one run and four hits while striking out six in the 8-3 win.
Getting the nod for Houston is lefty, Wandy Rodriguez (0-0, 7.20 ERA). Against San Diego in his first start, Rodriguez pitched five innings giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out six. In the outing he also served up two home run balls. Rodriguez was not credited with a decision in the 9-6 Houston win.
The Astros are looking to avoid a third straight loss after dropping the final two games of their weekend set with the Cubs in Chicago, including a 3-2 defeat on Sunday.
