The Saint Louis Cardinals (3-1) can win the tenth World Championship in franchise history tonight with a win over the Detroit Tigers (1-3). The Tigers need to win in order to extend the series to a sixth game back in Detroit. Taking the mound for the Cardinals will be veteran Jeff Weaver against rookie Jason Verlander for Detroit.
The Cardinals announced prior to Thursday's Game-four that Weaver (2-2, 2.91 ERA postseason; 8-14, 5.76 regular season) will make the start in Game-five. With Wednesday's contest pushed back due to rain and the scheduled off day eliminated, Weaver will make the start on his regular four days' rest. Weaver has alternated wins and losses in his four postseason starts, lasting at least five innings while allowing three earned runs or less in each outing. The right-hander took the loss in Game-two in Detroit, allowing three earned runs on nine hits over five innings while walking one and striking out five.
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Verlander has emerged as one of the best young power pitchers in the game. His fastball has been clocked as high as 99 mph and he gets it to the plate following an abbreviated delivery. Verlander has an above-average curveball and a decent changeup. When all three pitches are working, Verlander is practically un-hittable. He took the loss in Game one.
The weather again might be a factor in tonight’s game. The local Saint Louis weather forecast calls for a few showers this evening then mostly clear skies overnight. It is raining on and off today in Saint Louis and might rain right up until game time.
If the weather cooperates and the Cardinals can pull off a win, it will be the first World Championship for the Cardinals since the 1982 season when rookie outfielder Willie McGee, veteran first baseman Keith Hernandez, catcher Darrell Porter and pitching ace Joaquin Andujar drove the Cardinals to a seven-game victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Odd makers at Caesars Palace Casino and Sportsbook seem to favor Verlander in tonight’s game by establishing a –135 Money Line (ML) chalk with a total of 8-runs. Run Line odds are Detroit +130 and Saint Louis –150.
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