The St. Louis Cardinals always seem to find trouble when they play the Houston Astros; or at least it seems that way. The Cardinals went to Houston to play the Astros in a three game set on Tuesday and were listed as favorites to win the series. What oddsmakers failed to do when lining this series is check the history books. while the Cardinals have been the superior team, they stink against the Astros on the road or at home.
The Cardinals have found a way to lose to the Astros in their last six of seven games, home or away, and have lost their last five of six games in Houston. For Wednesday's matchup (8:05 pm ET), the second of the series, Houston will go for a series win by sending left-hander J.A. Happ to the mound, hoping the young left-hander can contain the big Cardinals bats. Countering for the Red Birds will be right-hander Kyle Lohse.
With Happ and Lohse the starting pitchers, oddsmakers at Bodog.com have installed the Cardinals as -132 MLB Odds moneyline favorites with a 8 1/2 total. Astros' backers are getting +122 odds as home underdogs. If there is a pitching change prior to the game these odds will be declared a no action.
Lohse has possibly been the Cardinals best pitcher this year currently at 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA. If he can keep it up it will be a vast improvment from a year ago when he struggled going 4-8 and finished with a 6.55 ERA. This season Lohse has pitched 31.1 innings in four starts and only giving up seven runs on 19 hits. In his last outing Lohse pitched a complete game shutout last Thursday allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six.
Happ has struggled in the early going this season so far posting a 1-3 record in four starts to go along with an unimpressive 6.94 ERA. In 23.1 frames pitched, Happ has given up 18 runs (all earned) on 24 hits including giving up three homeruns. His last outing came against the Mets on Thursday where he was roughed up only lasting 4 2/3 innings and giving up six runs on six hits.
For my daily MLB Predictions , I look for the Cardinals to bounce back from their Tuesday loss and win the game. MLB Best Bet: Cardinals -132.
