Cubs, Cards wrap up set with matinee
Aledmys Diaz helped carry the Cardinals’ offense before suffering a fractured right thumb on July 31. Last night, the rookie standout noisily re-announced his presence.
Belting a two-run homer off Jason Hammel, Diaz steered St. Louis to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs. A cadre of other individuals stepped up, too, keeping Mike Matheny’s club a half-game behind the Mets for the National League’s second wild-card spot. Brandon Moss also went yard, while Alex Reyes fired 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of the discombobulated Jaime Garcia.
The Redbirds fully expect Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.05 ERA) to set the tone on the mound in today’s series finale vs. the Central Division leaders, with a 1:45 p.m. ET first pitch at Busch Stadium. Yet online sports Bovada.lv leans toward Chicago, rendering the hosts +120 underdogs. The over/under run figure rests at 7.5.
Martinez holds a 3-1 record with a 4.71 ERA in 17 career outings against the North Siders. He’s been particularly special over the past few weeks, capturing four straight decisions. The 24-year-old has also worked into the seventh in five of his 10 second-half assignments.
Joe Maddon, though, gets to roll out an equally formidable option. Four-time All-Star Jon Lester (16-4, 2.51) finds himself in serious contention for Cy Young honors. Most recently, the lefty blanked Houston for seven frames.
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Obviously, Diaz and his teammates will have their hands full. But don’t doubt the shortstop’s ability to turn around another fastball in just his second start this month. Martinez’s success in afternoon affairs makes the Cards a pretty appealing choice here, as well.
WEDNESDAY MLB FREE PICK: CARDINALS +1.5