MLB Betting – Cardinals vs Phillies Game 5 NLDS Preview & Pick
Feels like we couldn’t have scripted Friday’s Game 5 National League Division Series pitching matchup any better.
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Date: Friday, October 7, 2011
Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Broadcast: TBS
St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies Betting Lines from 5Dimes.com
Money Line: Cardinals +170, Phillies -180
Over/Under: 7
St. Louis Cardinals (series tied 2-2)
Chris Carpenter (0-0, 12.00)
The fifth and deciding game pits former teammates and current close friends Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay head to head as the Cardinals and Phillies battle for a berth in the National League Championship Series.
Carpenter was a hero last week, pitching St. Louis into the playoffs with a two-hit, complete-game shutout, but his bubble quickly burst in Game 2 of this series. Pitching on short rest the first time in his career, he was chased after allowing four runs on five hits in three innings. St. Louis wound up winning that game but Carpenter has to be better if St. Louis wants a chance.
Over 11 career regular-season starts versus the Phillies, Carpenter is 7-2 with a 4.14 ERA. But the Phillies have tagged him for 11 homers in those 11 starts. Stalwarts like Jimmy Rollins (.563 in the series) and Chase Utley (.462) are swinging hot bats and Ryan Howard, who hasn’t homered since Game 1, is due to bust out. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Philadelphia Phillies (series tied 2-2)
Roy Halladay (1-0, 3.38)
It doesn’t get much more vintage than what Roy Halladay did for the Phillies in Game 1. After Lance Berkman rocked him for a three-run homer in Game 1, Doc decided he’d had enough of that nonsense and calmly retired 21 straight batters over the next seven innings. It was a signature performance that showcased why Roy Halladay is the toughest pitcher in baseball mentally.
With that first hiccup out of the way, what will Doc’s encore be? His 2.10 lifetime ERA against the Cards entering in the series suggests he should be comfortable tonight. Doc will, however, have to be careful against Albert Pujols. The slugger is batting .412 in the series but has just one RBI. It feels like he’s a ticking time bomb.
The pick:
To me, the Cardinals had their chance to catch Halladay on a rare off day in Game 1. They roughed him up in the first inning but couldn’t finish the job. The odds of Doc struggling early on in a second straight start aren’t good. He’ll be well rested and should be calmer with a game in the series under his belt already.
Even if Carpenter comes back stronger – and he should on full rest – I don’t think he can outduel Halladay in Philadelphia.
Cardinals vs Phillies prediction: Phillies 4, Cardinals 2
Money Line: Phillies -180
Over/Under: UNDER 7
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