The St. Louis Cardinals will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates into Busch Stadium Friday night to begin a weekend series between the National League Central foes. RHP Todd Wellemeyer (5-1, 3.36 ERA) will be looking for his sixth win on the seas on when he takes the mound for this game. The Pirates will counter with LHP Zach Duke (2-3, 4.55 ERA).
Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Cardinals as -175-money line favorites in this game with an 8.5 run total.
Wellemeyer has been as steady as any Cardinals starter this season. He's allowed more than four runs just once in 11 starts, and he's permitted three or fewer in five straight. He had a rough go in his first start against Pittsburgh this year, but in his second appearance he turned in an excellent game.
Duke was pushed back one day in the rotation because of a callus on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Duke has battled the minor discomfort through his last two starts and the Pirates' hope is that one extra day of rest will allow it to fully heal. In his last start, Duke surrendered 10 hits in four innings against the Cubs, giving up four earned runs. It was his shortest outing since April 20, when the Cubs chased Duke from the game after four innings and five earned runs. Duke is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA in seven starts against the Cardinals, though he is winless with a 5.60 ERA at Busch Stadium.
Xavier Nady homered and drove in two runs Thursday, as the Pirates defeated the Reds 7-2. The Pirates won the game as +160 underdogs, while the eight runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (9).
Jason Bay belted a two-run home run and went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Pirates.
The Cardinals held off a late rally to earn a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Astros as a -105 pick'em on Thursday. The five runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (8.5).
Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Cardinals. Kyle Lohse threw six innings for the win, allowing one run off five hits.
Point-Spreads.com, MLB Picks: Cardinals ML -175
