MLB Predictions Preview …The pressure is on for the Philadelphia Philies and St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies, with a narrow single game lead in the NL East standings over the New York Mets, and Cardinals frantically trying to keep from falling farther behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central standings at four-games back, play the second game of their weekend series in St. Louis at Busch Stadium tonight. The Cardinals will start right handed pitcher Braden Looper (10-8, 4.38 ERA) while the Phillies look to new right handed acquisition Joe Blanton (5-12, 5.13 ERA).
MLB Predictions Betting Line … Oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog (Bodoglife.com) currently have the Phillies listed as 115-moneyline favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game's total is sitting at 9½.
Looper faces a tough task in the hard-hitting Phillies, a team that made him labor three weeks ago. In that start, at Citizens Bank Park, Looper needed 112 pitches to go six innings. However, he's coming off a very solid game in Atlanta, a game in which he righted a recent problem — the long ball. He didn't allow a home run against the Braves, after serving up 10 in his previous six starts. If he keeps it in the park, he should be fine.
Blanton's start against the Braves on Sunday was cut short when the game was halted for a two-hour rain delay. In two innings of work prior to the delay, the Phils' new addition surrendered two runs on three hits. Blanton will make his third start for the Phillies against the Cardinals, a team he has not yet faced, having just joined the National League after about 3 1/2 seasons with the Athletics. Before joining Philadelphia, the 27-year-old right-hander went 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA for Oakland.
Ryan Ludwick belted two home runs in leading the Cardinals to a 6-3 win over the Phillies as +130 underdogs on Friday. The nine runs made it OVER the posted over/under (7.5).
Ludwick finished 4-for-4 at the plate, and Joe Mather drove in three runs for the Cardinals. Kyle Lohse threw 5 1-3 innings for his 13th win, and Jason Isringhausen picked up his 12th save.
Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, who were faovred at -140 in that game. Cole Hamels surrendered five runs off eight hits over six innings in the loss.
