Free MLB Picks – Cardinals at Dodgers Game 1 NLDS 2009: The 2009 National League regular season series between the Cardinals and Dodgers was dominated by St. Louis, winning five of seven games played between the clubs. Wednesday night, the Cardinals will look to continue the domination as the NL Central and West division champions go head to head in the best of five games NLDS series with game 1 (9:37 ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. BetUS.com lists the Cardinals as -150 moneyline favorites to win the NLDS series with LA.
Looking to hold off the Cardinals, Dodgers manager Joe Torre is expected to give the starters nod for game 1 to Randy Wolf. The Dodgers left-hander went 11-7 during the regular season with a 3.23 ERA. Countering for the Cardinals is 2006 NL Cy Young Award Winner Chris Carpenter. The ace Cardinals right-hander went 17-4 during the season with a 2.24 ERA.
Carpenter paced the league in ERA and was a tremendous story as he came back from nearly two full missed seasons due to elbow injuries and a nerve condition behind his right shoulder. There's nobody the Cardinals would rather have on the mound in a big game.
Wolf make his first career playoff appearance Wednesday against the Cardinals, but he'll do so as the Dodgers' No. 1 starter. Wolf went 11-7 for the Dodgers this season, but the low win number hides the fact that he was the Dodgers' most consistent pitcher. His 214 1/3 innings led the team, and Wolf could always be counted on to come through in a big game. In his only start against the Cardinals this year, on July 27, Wolf gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings.
Free MLB Picks: This game should be a classic pitchers duel but our nod goes to the Cardinals with Carpenter on the mound.
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