Can Cardinals, Martinez drub D-backs?
While their play in 2016 has been uncharacteristically messy, the Cardinals can usually count on a particular opponent to make everything all better.
Mike Matheny’s club once again rolls out the welcome mat for the Diamondbacks in tonight’s series opener, with an 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch at Busch Stadium. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI side with St. Louis as a 1.5-run favorite, whereas Chip Hale’s troops are +145 underdogs. The over/under figure holds steady at seven runs.
Before the Redbirds target an eighth consecutive win against Arizona (19-24), they should take a moment to reflect on what worked yesterday. A banner offensive outing propelled the hosts to a 13-7 triumph over Colorado. The Cards plated six in the fourth inning alone, and right fielder Stephen Piscotty totaled three hits to raise his luminous batting average to .329 – seventh in the National League.
St. Louis’ sticks should have success vs. Patrick Corbin (1-3, 4.14), too. When the two squads met late last month, Arizona’s lefty yielded seven base knocks and five runs in 5 2/3 frames. He’s still searching for his first win since April 17.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
Carlos Martinez (4-3, 3.14) finds himself in a similar drought. The righty’s actually dropped three straight decisions, serving up nine runs and 15 hits during that span. He absolutely dominated the D-backs on April 27 in the desert, though, going eight and perplexing Hale’s lineup with a devastating array of stuff.
Look for a similar degree of bewilderment to set in in several hours. Despite losing to the Dodgers on Saturday, Martinez reached 101 mph on the radar gun and unfurled a wicked changeup at 91 mph. With the possible exception of Paul Goldschmidt, nobody on the Diamondbacks’ roster is capable of handling classic CarMart. St. Louis (22-19) needs that version of him this evening in order to begin closing the gap in the NL Central.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: DIAMONDBACKS/CARDINALS OVER 7 RUNS
Want More Picks, Predictions & Odds From The Spread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!