After the Cubs Wednesday night victory over St. Louis, their mid-week series with the Cardinals is even at one game apiece. These National League Central Division rivals go at it again Thursday in the rubber game, a 2:20 PM (ET) matinee. Now sitting four games behind the Cardinals (21-16) in the NL Central standings, the Cubs (16-19) will look to a youngster, right-hander Casey Coleman (1-2,6.29 ERA) to get things done from the mound while the Cardinals counter with left-hander Jamie Garcia (4-0, 1.99 ERA).
With Garcia the starting choice of the Cardinals, oddsmakers at sports shops across the off shore board show them heavy -162 MLB Lines favorites in this one with a posted total of 9-runs. Cubs backers are getting +147 odds as home underdogs.
Garcia, the new ace in the St. Louis rotation, was near perfect last Friday pitching a 6-0 shutout of the Brewers at Busch Stadium. His chance at a perfect game ended in the eighth after yielding a walk then lost his no-hitter bid in the same inning when Yuniesky Betancourt singled. His shutout was saved when the Cardinals defense got a double play to end the inning.
The Cubs picked up a 3-2 win at Wrigley in Coleman's last start but the young right-hander was not credited with the win. He did pitch well over six innings giving up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six. It took a two-run ninth inning rally by the Cubs to get Coleman off the hook for loss. It was his best start of the season.
The Cubs got the best of starter Jake Westbrook and the Cardinals last night tagging the veteran pitcher for five runs in the third and chasing him from the game. Before it was over, the Cubs put 11 on the board to the Card's four. Cubs backers cashed with their team as -126 favorites while the 15 runs to cross the plate easily sent the game total OVER the posted 9-runs.
For this game, my daily MLB Picks will be dual, a side and total. I fully expect the Cardinals to get a win with Garcia the starter and I'm recommending you wager the UNDER-9 on the game total. The total price is good too at +100(even) odds.
