While the two clubs out in Missouri have been great to backers all season, they spoiled our Sunday with a pair of losses as -130 favorites (the Birds on the run line). And neither was even close! And up and down month has us pretty much right back where we started, which is right on the edge of dipping into the red. Here’s to staying out of the negatives with a winner on Wednesday.
Free Pick
St. Louis burned us in Philadelphia but the Cardinals got back on track last night with a win in Miami as they continue their road trip through the NL East’s basement. A one-run win gets the Birds back on track ahead of tonight’s game where Jaime Garcia gets the ball, looking to continue his stellar season. Garcia debuted just a month ago in late May after rehabbing his elbow injury that put him out just about all of last year. And it 
appears that his patience has paid dividends for the Cardinals’ rotation. After uncharacteristically walking five in his season debut – a loss against the Mets – Garcia finally issued his next free pass in his last start. His impeccable control has kept both his pitch count and WHIP to a minimum. The lefty has allowed a average of just 0.90 base runners per inning in the 41 he’s worked so far. And despite going at least six frames in every outing this season, he has eclipsed the 100-pitch mark just once (in his first start when he threw 102). With a fresh arm and the momentum that he’s generated through six starts in 2015, Garcia looks like a good bet going up against a young, and relatively underwhelming, Miami lineup.
On the other side of things, the Cardinals should score some runs against Mat Latos who has not been the guy the Fish thought they were acquiring in the off-season. Latos has looked very hittable in 2015 with a declining velocity and poor control of both his fastball and waistline. After throwing his best game of the year two starts ago against Colorado, Latos reverted back to his sloppy 2015 self the last time out against the Yankees when he walked two and gave up nine hits before being lifted with two outs in the sixth innings. Latos’ 1.54 WHIP and 5.37 ERA don’t look like a match for Jaime Garcia and the MLB’s best from St. Louis.
If the road favorite is the sucker play, I’ll be a sucker for a day.
Free Pick: St. Louis -115
YTD: 9-7-3 +0.72
2014: 45-28-3 +9.02
jaime garcia • mat latos • miami marlins • st. louis cardinals