The Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their MLB betting series tonight with a pitchers’ rematch between Zach Davies and Michael Wacha.
Time: 7:15 PM
Venue: Busch Stadium
Sportsbooks odds for fans who bet on baseball:
Brewers +1½ (-160) 9 (-115) +137
Cardinals -1½ (+140) 9 (-105) -147
Milwaukee
On the mound: Zach Davies (RHP, 7-3, 4.74 ERA, 50 K) has won his previous two starts, against the D-Backs and the LA Dodgers (whom he held scoreless on three hits in six innings), as well as five of his last seven. Davies is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in five career starts versus St. Louis. He allowed the Cards two earned runs – both home runs – on seven hits in five innings against St. Louis on May 1 at Busch Stadium. Davies picked up a 7-5 win against the Cardinals on April 20 in Milwaukee. Davies had the Majors’ second-highest line-drive rate (minimum 100 batted balls) at 34% and the 88th-highest ground-ball rate at 41% in his first nine starts, but has recorded the MLB’s second-lowest line-drive rate (minimum 50 batted balls) at 13% and its third-highest ground-ball rate at 66% in the following four starts.
Miscellanea: The Brewers are on top of the National League Central division, a spot they have had for 28 days, but the remaining teams in the NLCD have held that spot as well for amounts of time ranging from 26 to 13 days.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The Brewers have won four of their last six games against St. Louis, including yesterday’s meeting, and six of their last seven visits to Busch Stadium. The MLB betting total has gone over in four of the Brewers’ last seven games.
St. Louis
On the mound: Michael Wacha (RHP, 3-3, 4.50 ERA, 55 K) allowed the Phillies two runs on five hits in six innings – the first time he’s lasted beyond the fifth since May 19th – on Friday for his third W of the season. Between May 19th and Friday, he was pulled out prior to the fifth inning in three straight games, a period during which he gave up 16 runs over 10 1/3 innings. Wacha surrendered four runs – one a home run – on seven hits in six innings against the Brewers on May 1st. he is 3-0 in five starts versus Milwaukee with a 3.81 ERA in 28 1/3 innings.
At bat: Second baseman Kolten Wong has hit safely in six games since returning from the 10-day DL, but left yesterday’s game after five innings with tight right forearm. His status for tonight is unknown.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The Cards have won four of their last six games and six of their last eight at home. On the other hand they have dropped two thirds of their last six against Milwaukee, and five of their last seven times hosting the Brewers. The MLB betting total has gone under in four of St. Louis’ last seven games.