The St. Louis Cardinals took a 5-3 loss to San Diego in their home opener Friday afternoon. I like the Cards to bounce back and even the three-game series with a triumph today with Michael Wacha on the mound.

Wacha (0-0, 1.50 ERA) has limited the Padres to nine runs (eight earned) on 24 hits and 11 walks with 20 Ks through five career starts covering 31 frames. He held Milwaukee to one run through six innings in his season debut.

The Friars counter with rookie right-hander Chris Paddack (0-0, 1.80 ERA) who was solid in his MLB debut, holding the Giants to one run and two hits in five innings of work. We can however note that San Francisco has scored only 19 runs in eight games on the season, and this will be much tougher test for Paddack who will face a Cards team that has averaged a respectable 4.71 rpg in seven games.

Cardinals are 7-2 in Wacha's last nine home starts. Padres are 6-21 in their last 27 during Game 2 of a series.

10* play on St. Louis Cardinals.