St. Louis Cardinals vs Miami Marlins: Free Pick Friday, 7–29–2016
Cardinals vs Marlins Free Pick, July 29, 2016
Free Pick by: Johnny Pham of BetSheet.com
Odds: Marlins -120, O/U 8.5
Time: 7:10pm EST
St. Louis Cardinals Preview
55–47, 2nd NL Central
The St. Louis Cardinals look to build off their big 5–4 win over the Miami Marlins yesterday. Game 2 of this three game series goes off tonight at7:10pm EST.
The Cardinals are making some noise in the NL Central and will likely add a piece or two at the deadline. St. Louis could use another arm in the rotation and potentially another bat as they have to contend with the Chicago Cubs among others in the division race. The best the Cardinals can hope for is a playing towards a Wild Card birth.
Getting the start tonight for the Cardinals is Mike Leake (7–8, 4.24 ERA). Leake has pitched 123 innings and has 91 strikeouts. Leake lost for the fourth time in his last six starts in his last startSunday against the Dodgers. He threw six innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
St. Louis continues to hit well despite missing some key pieces, averaging 5.08 runs per game (3rd in MLB) and 4th in homers with 138.
Miami Marlins Preview
55–47, 2nd in NL East
Miami and St. Louis are both 2.0 games behind the Dodgers for the lead in the NL Wild Card. Miami has been a nice surprise this season as they weren’t expected to compete for a playoff spot.
Miami’s biggest weakest is the depth of their starting pitching. Good news for Miami is they are 17–5 in their last 22 outings against the NL Central, one of the best divisions in baseball, and this could be the spot to climb back in as Leake isn’t the greatest of options on the mound.
Jose Urena takes the ball for Miami to make his 19th appearance and third start of the year. He is 1–2 with one save, a 5.34 ERA and a 1.406 WHIP over 32 innings of work. Urena is 1–4 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.408 WHIP over 49 innings of action pitching at home in Miami.
Urena took a no-decision in his only start against the Cardinals, which came last year. Urena gave up three runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Cardinals vs Miami Free Pick & Prediction by Johnny Pham
What is Johnny Pham predicting?
The Cards are 13–3 in their last 16 games against a righty, 7–3 in their last 10 overall, and 2–5 in Leake’s last seven starts while the Marlins are 11–5 in their last 16 overall, 1–6 in Urena’s last seven and 8–3 in their last 11 at home. St. Louis is coming off a nice win yesterday which helps their momentum heading intoFriday’s matchup.
The Cardinals are banged up and the Marlins are thin on pitching. Urena pitched well in his last two starts, allowing one run in each start. He still has an ERA over 5.00 this season.
St. Louis 10–2 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning record
Cardinals are 13–3 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter
Miami is 1–6 in Urena’s last 7 starts
“Backing the Cardinals tonight with Leake on the mound. I’m not sold on either pitcher but I like the experience of Leake who should eat up some innings. The Cardinals always seem to be in the playoff hunt and they need to start stringing some series wins together and a win tonight will help their cause”.
Cardinals vs Marlins Free Pick: St. Louis Cardinals +105 (Bovada)
