MLB Picks: The red hot St. Louis Cardinals are in New York tonight to take on the floundering New York Mets. The Cardinals are fresh off a road sweep of the Kansas City Royals while the Mets dropped two out of three to Tampa Bay at Citi Field over the weekend. Online bookmaker SBGglobal.com has the Mets listed as a -1.5 run line favorite in tonight's game.
The Cardinals reclaimed the top spot in the National League Central over the weekend by sweeping the swooning Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Brewers dropped three straight and are now a game and a half back of St. Louis in the standings. The Red Birds series win in KC gave them seven victories in their last 10 and improved their road record to 18-15 on the season.
St. Louis skipper Tony LaRussa will call on Todd Wellemeyer to keep things rolling this evening in New York. Wellemeyer is 6-6 in 14 starts this year with a 5.36 ERA. The Cardinals are 2-0 in the 30 year old's last two appearances, despite him allowing 17 hits and seven earned runs in just over 11 innings pitched. St. Louis is 4-1 this season when the Kentucky native starts on the road.
However, Wellemeyer has had little success against the Mets in recent seasons. Over the last three years, he possesses a 7.90 ERA against New York and has yielded a .351 batting average to the Mets lineup.
New York dropped to 34-33 over the weekend as the Rays handed them their second consecutive home series loss. In spite of the Mets recent woes (three wins in their last 10 games), the Phillies struggles have allowed them to stay just two games back of the division lead.
Starting tonight for New York is veteran right-hander Tim Redding. Redding has made just six starts this season and the results have been less than desirable. The 31 year old is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA and he has walked almost as many batters (16) as he has struck out (20). The Rochester native has made two starts at Citi Field this year, both of which he took the loss in (11 innings, 14 hits allowed, 10 earned runs allowed).
This evening's game is scheduled for a 7:10pm ET start at Citi Field in New York. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
SBGglobal.com MLB Picks: Cardinals vs Mets Odds – June 22, 2009
St. Louis Cardinals +1.5 (-220), Over 9.5 (-105), -110 (Moneyline)
New York Mets -1.5 (+180), Under 9.5 (-115), -110 (Moneyline)
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