The Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals have split the first two of this three-game set at Busch Stadium after a 5-0 Cardinals win on Saturday. The Cardinals have won seven of the past nine meetings, and my money is on the home team in the rubber match Sunday afternoon.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Cardinals hand the ball to Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.36). The 25 year old has recorded three straight winning decisions and has allowed only three runs in 12 2/3 innings over his last two starts at home. This will mark his first career meeting with the Marlins who counter with Adam Conley (6-5, 3.62 ERA). The left-hander has been a strikeout machine this season, but he's also issuing a lot of free passes (nearly four walks per nine innings). Conley has fared better under the lights than during the day and he has a 4.91 ERA in seven afternoon starts this season.

2. Road Woes - The Marlins are 2-6 in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning record and 1-4 in Conley's last five road starts.

3. X-Factor - St. Louis' Tommy Pham is 8-for-17 with three homers, five RBIs and four runs scored during his five-game hitting streak and he homered twice in the series opener on Friday.

Selection: This is a play on the St. Louis Cardinals (8*)