PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY Afternoon ASSAULT >> **RED HOT** 14-5 Last 6 Days!
(MLB) St. Louis vs. Philadelphia,
Money Line: -151.00 St. Louis (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -151.00 St. Louis (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: It's hardly been smooth sailing for the 33-37 Cardinals in 2017 but St. Louis outscored Philadelphia 16-7 in sweeping a three-game series at Busch Stadium June 9-11 and has now opened this week by winning back-to-back extra inning games at Citizens Bank Park. The Cards won 8-1 (in 11 innings) on Tuesday and last night overcame a 5-0 deficit to win 7-6 in 10 innings. St. Louis improved to 3-2 on its six-game road trip while Philadelphia suffered its fifth straight loss, as well as its 13th in the last 14 games. The Phillies continue to fall deeper and deeper into a hole, as the team's 22-48 record remains MLB's worst as the Cards look for a second straight three-game sweep Thursday afternoon.
The pick: Carlos Martinez (6-5 & 2.86 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis and Aaron Nola (3-5 & 4.76 ERA) for Philadelphia. Martinez, another reliever turned starter for the Cards, opened the 2017 season struggling. He came out of nowhere to win 14 games in 2015 and then 16 games in 2016. However, he went 0-3 with a 4.71 ERA in five April starts in 2017. That's all changed since the start of May though, as he's gone 6-2 in his last nine outings, with his ERA on the season dropping to 2.86. Martinez is coming off back-to-back outstanding efforts, striking out 11 and scattering four hits in a 7-0 win over Philadelphia on June 10 before allowing one run in six innings in an 11-2 rout at Baltimore last Friday. Nola takes the mound for the Phillies having gone 1-5 in his last six outings, after allowing five runs on nine hits in six-plus innings against Arizona last Friday. "I'm not getting ahead of hitters like I need to, which makes me battle more, which puts a little more stress on you," he told reporters.
The pick: It's been a struggle for Nola this year but has pitched well in two career outings versus St. Louis, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings in an game last season, before taking a 6-5 loss on June 11 despite allowing just three runs on four hits in five innings. However, Nola has had all sorts of trouble at home in 2017, posting a 6.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Martinez is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts vs. Philadelphia, including allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters in a 109-pitch complete game on June 10. Martinez now has nine quality starts in his past 10 outings, including posting a 1.77 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings of his last six, while holding batters to a .159 batting average and .450 OPS. St. Louis makes it 6-0 against Philadelphia in 2017 with a second straight sweep. Make the Cards an 8* play.
The pick: Carlos Martinez (6-5 & 2.86 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis and Aaron Nola (3-5 & 4.76 ERA) for Philadelphia. Martinez, another reliever turned starter for the Cards, opened the 2017 season struggling. He came out of nowhere to win 14 games in 2015 and then 16 games in 2016. However, he went 0-3 with a 4.71 ERA in five April starts in 2017. That's all changed since the start of May though, as he's gone 6-2 in his last nine outings, with his ERA on the season dropping to 2.86. Martinez is coming off back-to-back outstanding efforts, striking out 11 and scattering four hits in a 7-0 win over Philadelphia on June 10 before allowing one run in six innings in an 11-2 rout at Baltimore last Friday. Nola takes the mound for the Phillies having gone 1-5 in his last six outings, after allowing five runs on nine hits in six-plus innings against Arizona last Friday. "I'm not getting ahead of hitters like I need to, which makes me battle more, which puts a little more stress on you," he told reporters.
The pick: It's been a struggle for Nola this year but has pitched well in two career outings versus St. Louis, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings in an game last season, before taking a 6-5 loss on June 11 despite allowing just three runs on four hits in five innings. However, Nola has had all sorts of trouble at home in 2017, posting a 6.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Martinez is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts vs. Philadelphia, including allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters in a 109-pitch complete game on June 10. Martinez now has nine quality starts in his past 10 outings, including posting a 1.77 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings of his last six, while holding batters to a .159 batting average and .450 OPS. St. Louis makes it 6-0 against Philadelphia in 2017 with a second straight sweep. Make the Cards an 8* play.
