I'm backing the Phillies ML on Tuesday. Phillies SP Zack Wheeler has been locked in to start the season (one earned run with 15 strikeouts in 12 combined innings) and the Philly offense looks like it's starting to get into gear. I believe in this Philadelphia team a lot, as their core group is as talented as any in baseball today.

They'll face a Cardinals team that won four of its last six before this series, but those wins came against the hit-or-miss Padres and a bad Marlins team. Besides, St. Louis lost both of those series finales, surrendering ten runs on Sunday to the previously winless Fins. The Cardinals will turn to SP Sonny Gray tomorrow, even though the club planned to send him to Triple-A to make a rehab start. Instead, he lobbied to pitch for the big league club. Gray — who hasn’t pitched since straining his right hamstring on March 4 — will be limited to a 65-pitch count.

He may be ready to go, but I'm not banking on it. Expect the Phillies to get the best of Gray and the Cardinals bullpen (3.93 ERA) Tuesday at Busch Stadium!