MLB Baseball
2012-08-07 - San Francisco Giants at St Louis Cardinals
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Tuesday 7 August 2012 - First Pitch 8:15pm ET
1:15am (British Standard Time)
Preview
We are still have a couple of months of the season to go, but it is clear that there are beginning to be signs that differentiate between those wanting to extend their seasons into the Play Offs and those that will be looking ahead to the 2013 season.
The St Louis Cardinals (60-49) are hosting the San Francisco Giants (59-50) in the second of a four game set that may just have long-term implications as both are fighting for positions in the National League.
St Louis are 6 games behind in the National League Central, and they are 2.5 games behind the race for the Wild Card spots. San Francisco have a weaker record than the Cardinals, but they are 0.5 games ahead of the LA Dodgers in the National League West in what likes a Division that will supply just one post-season team.
The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 13 games at home as they look to surge up their own Division and they are averaging 6 runs per game. Lance Lynn will be given the ball as he looks to build on his 13-4 record and 3.40 ERA on the season.
Lynn has been very good in recent games as he has posted a 3-0 record and a 2.70 ERA in his last five starts and he has allowed 2 runs or fewer in four of those starts. The pitcher has won in four of his last five starts at home and he has not given up a run in his last 12 innings pitching here at Busch Stadium.
San Francisco had won three in a row before losing the first game of this series, and they had scored 35 runs in their three wins. The Giants are likely going to need some solid production from their batting line up if they are to win this game as they give the ball to Barry Zito.
Zito is 8-8 with a 4.27 ERA this season, but he has gone 0-2 in his last three starts while his ERA has ballooned to 7.56. The pitcher is also just 1-6 with a 5.23 ERA in his last eight starts against the Cardinals.
He has had an even tougher time at St Louis where he has lost three decisions and has a 9.00 ERA.
Head to Head
These two teams split a two game series in San Francisco earlier this season and yesterdays win for St Louis means they lead the season series 2-1.
Before the loss yesterday, San Francisco had won 3 of the last 4 games at St Louis.
St Louis are 33-21 at home this season, San Francisco are 27-27 on the road.
Prediction
I am going to back the St Louis Cardinals to continue their solid form at home and pick up the win in this game and ensure they get a split of this series.
They are batting very well at the moment and they have the real edge on the pitching mound and I expect the Cardinals will have enough in them to take this by a couple of runs at the least.
The odds are just tempting enough at odds against and that will be my only play of the day.
The Pick :
St Louis Cardinals 6-3 San Francisco Giants
