MLB Tuesday Preview – Philadelphia vs St. Louis
Before baseball gambling fans turn their attention to other sports betting events this weekend, we have the Saturday MLB game of the day pick for you. It’s time for our weekly baseball picks for online MLB betting action.
Season Record:
Philadelphia: 48-44 SU
St. Louis: 52-41 SU
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Phillies Trying To Climb Back Up NL East
MLB Betting – Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals
Jamie Moyer (9-9) vs. Chris Carpenter (10-3)
Moyer vs. Cardinals Hitting
Moyer is pitching ok enough this season to stay in the rotation, but his streakiness may come to haunt the Phillies when they need to make a big push for the playoffs. Over Moyer’s last two starts, he’s allowed 13 runs in just 8 1/3 innings. In a four game stretch before that, the 47-year old didn’t allow more than two runs in any start. His ERA is hovering just under 5.00, but his WHIP is a respectable 1.09. The Phillies just don’t know what they’ll get from a Jamie Moyer start anymore, and that could prove to be very dangerous.
Moyer has owned the Cardinals in his career, going 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA. More importantly, Moyer has been able to silence the team’s two best hitters; Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday are a combined 2-for-16 against the lefty. However the ageless one has yet to face the Cardinals this year, the year of the inconsistent Moyer. St. Louis does have the offensive capacity to finally break out of their Moyer slump.
Carpenter vs. Phillies Hitting
Carpenter pitched through a rough patch at the beginning of July, going 0-2 in three starts and allowing 14 runs in 16 innings. However, his last start before the all-star break was an eight-inning gem, so I’m betting those previous starts was an aberration as opposed to a trend. Carpenter is still one of the elite arms in the NL, and teamed with Adam Wainwright gives St. Louis a lethal 1-2 punch. If it weren’t for the ungodly numbers his fellow NL counterparts were putting up, Carpenter would be in discussion for his second Cy Young.
Despite some hiccups during the season and the loss of Chase Utley to the DL, the Phillies still posses one of the best offenses in the league. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are the highlights, and can strike fear into any opposing pitcher. In the past the Phillies have gotten to Carpenter, as the right-hander has a 5.73 ERA in eight starts against the Phils.
Bullpen Comparison
There is some definite talent in the St. Louis bullpen. Set-up man Kyle McClennan is not only the team’s work horse (46 IP), he also owns the best ERA for any regular reliever on the team (1.96 ERA).
Ryan Franklin has saved 17 of 18 chances, and Jason Motte is averaging over a strikeout per inning while sporting a solid 2.72 ERA.
The Phillies bullpen isn’t as effective. The team doesn’t have a real closer, which is why they sit 26th in the league for saves; neither Brad Lidge nor Ryan Madsen are having good enough seasons to justify their position as closer.
There are solid pieces elsewhere, but no one stands out above the rest. This shaky relief core could really hurt the Phillies in the stretch run.
Outlook
The pitching matchup goes to St. Louis, as does the momentum going into the game. The Cards have won all four post all-star break games, while the Phillies dropped three of four over the weekend to Chicago.
The Phils are struggling and the Cards are surging, and since St. Louis is showing off the better arm in this one, I’m betting on them.
Pick: St. Louis Cardinals
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Poolside Rants hails from beautiful Bozeman Montana by way of Toronto, Canada. (Blame his wife for the move). He’s a Dallas Cowboys football honk. But please….don’t hold that against him. The man knows his sports and has uncanny knowledge when it comes to picking games.
