MLB Predictions Preview …St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter has pitched well in his three starts since spending 18 months on the disabled list but faces a huge challenge today starting a game where a win is almost a must against the NL Central Division leaders Chicago Cubs. Through nine innings pitched over two games, Carpenter hasn’t earned a decision, but has a 1.00 ERA. Chicago will pin its hopes in tonight’s game on ace right hander Ryan Dempster whom is 12-5 with a 2.93 ERA.
MLB Predictions Betting Line … Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have the Cubs listed as -143 favorites with a 7.5 total. The Cardinals are getting +133 money line odds as the road underdog.
Carpenter has allowed one run on eight hits in nine innings so far. He went deeper into the game completing five innings in his last start than he did the start prior, in which he lasted four innings.
Dempster should be well-rested for this start. He matched his shortest outing of the season, five innings, in Monday's loss to Houston, but it was Mother Nature's fault. The Cubs-Astros game on Monday was halted by a thunderstorm at the start of the sixth for two hours and 45 minutes. They played two more innings before it was called for good. Dempster gave up two runs against the Astros to fall to 10-2 at home in 2008. He has yet to face the Cardinals this season, but he is very familiar with winning at Wrigley Field.
Troy Glaus homered twice and drove in five runs on Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals knocked off the Cubs by a final score of 12-3.
The Cards got the win as +162 road underdogs in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the day's posted total (9).
Skip Schumaker and Albert Pujols also blasted long balls in that easy win for St. Louis. Carlos Zambrano and Mark DeRosa homered for the Cubs.
MLB Prediction …Cardinals +133
