Can Grichuk, Cards clip Cubs again?
For nearly two months, Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk has scrounged for positives. The payoffs don’t get much sweeter than what unfolded last night at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis’ No. 7 hitter went yard in the bottom of the ninth to give the host team a huge 4-3 victory over NL Central-leading Chicago. The middle contest of the series begins at 7:10 p.m. ET, with oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv nonetheless leaning toward the Cubs. As for the Redbirds, they’re considered -102 underdogs.
Grichuk endured an April in which he batted .189 with 22 strikeouts. This month had progressed in a slightly better manner – until the 24-year-old tweaked his back in last weekend’s set against Arizona. The former Angels prospect missed just two starts, though, and promptly delivered in that climactic moment about 14 hours ago.
Truth be told, the Cards (24-21) probably need more Grichuk heroics to topple Jason Hammel this evening. The veteran hurler (5-1, 2.32 ERA) enjoys a fraction of the buzz generated by a Jake Arrieta or even Jon Lester, but the results so far are impeccable. Hammel essentially muzzled St. Louis several weeks ago, twirling six innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 Chicago triumph. He’s 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in the past three regular-season meetings.
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Clearly, Michael Wacha (2-4, 4.03) can’t afford many missteps on the other side. The righty’s most recent victory came on April 23. While velocity rarely represents an issue, Wacha seems to have lost something off his signature changeup. Anthony Rizzo (.455 in lifetime matchups vs. the Iowa City native), Dexter Fowler (.400) and Kris Bryant (.300) would love to see such a pattern continue.
Averaging 6.4 runs over their last five, the Cardinals keep feasting on pedestrian pitching. That label obviously does not apply to the Cubs (29-14). Bank on another tilt that stays tight well into the final stages.
TUESDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS/CARDINALS UNDER 8 RUNS
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