Astros at Cardinals MLB Picks: Astros at Cardinals – MLB Picks: The 2010 MLB season hasn't fared well for the Houston Astros, as the team was swept at home in back-to-back series versus the Giants and Phillies. The Astros will now head out on the road for their first road excursion, a six game trip, to St. Louis and Chicago. Against the Central Division leading Cardinals (4-2) on Monday, the Astros will pin their hopes on their No. 1 lefthander Wandy Rodriguez. Countering for the Cardinals will be their ace from last season, righthander Adam Wainwright.
MLB Picks oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog.com list the Cardinals as -230 moneyline favorites with a 7-run total. Run Line bettors are getting EVEN odds on St. Louis (-1 1/2) while the Astros are giving -120 (+1 1/2).Rodriguez held the Giants to three runs on seven hits and four walks and struck out four batters in his debut last Tuesday but got no run support, losing 3-zip. He's 3-9 with a 3.95 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Cardinals, including 14 starts. He made five starts against St. Louis last year and was 1-3 with a 3.72 ERA. Rodriguez has held Albert Pujols in check. The Cardinals slugger is a career .161 hitter with no home runs and one RBI in 31 at-bats against Pujols.
Wainwright was outstanding in his first start, and pronounced himself a good six weeks ahead of where he was at this point last season. His results were mostly good early last year, but he was walking far too many batters. This time around, he seems to be in a groove right away. Wainwright picked up his first win of 2010 Wednesday against the Reds, pitching seven innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
MLB Picks: I am not convinced the pitching in this young season has come along far enough to warrant a 7-run total. A perfect example of that was Sunday's high scoring affair between the Cardinals and Brewers, with two of the leagues best pitchers, Randy Wolf and Chris Carpenter going head to head. A total of 15 runs were scored in that game. For tonight's affair, take the OVER 7.
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