St. Louis’ 9-game win streak faces one of its toughest tests heading into the September 21st Cardinals at Brewers matchup. STL was a +168 underdog on Monday night, but came away with a 5-2 win as Jon Lester picked up his 200th career victory. That number jumps to +185 for St. Louis on Tuesday night’s contest.
The Cardinals face Brandon Woodruff on Tuesday night, and while that may seem intimidating the Brewers have lost 6 of his last 9 starts. Despite the Brewers holding a 10.5 game lead in the NL Central, the Cardinals have battled going 6-7 against Milwaukee this season. Can the Redbirds tie the series up on Tuesday?
Cardinals Feeling It
St. Louis looked like a trap play in Monday night’s series opener. The Redbirds were +168 despite an 8-game (at the time) win streak and up against Freddy Peralta who had allowed 1 ER over his previous two starts. What the Cardinals did is show that they transcend pitching matchups right now, breezing to a 5-2 win and a big cashout for STL backers.
Nolan Arenado got the scoring started with a 2-run HR off Peralta in the 1st inning of Monday’s game. One of the reasons it’s so hard to go against St. Louis right now regardless of the pitching matchup is because their offense is in the zone. Paul Goldschmidt had an 0-4 night in the series opener, but he was 10 for 23 prior and also walked five times. Arenado is 4 for his last 7 and has 4 HR in the last 9 games and Tyler O’Neill has 10 RBI in the last six games.
Jon Lester went 6.0 IP giving up just 3 hits against Milwaukee on Monday and Jake Woodford (2-3, 4.30 ERA) tries to follow that act in the September 21st Cardinals at Brewers matchup. Woodford is just getting into the starting role, his 6th of the year following 18 appearances out of the bullpen. Woodford shut out the Brewers over 5.1 IP giving up just 2 hits on September 4th in what was eventually a 4-0 Milwaukee win.
Can Woodruff Carry Brewers?
The Brewers’ magic number is 3 for the division, meaning if they win two of the next three in this series against the Cardinals the champagne will be popping. One would think we’d get closer to that with Brandon Woodruff (9-9, 2.55 ERA) on the mound Tuesday, but the right-hander hasn’t been a sure thing lately.
The Brewers have lost 6 of the last 9 Woodruff starts, which isn’t necessarily his fault with a sub 3 ERA on the year. Woodruff is 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA at home this year and has a 3.00 ERA on the dot over the past 30 days. Woodruff is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA vs. the Cardinals this season but he gave up 6 ER over 5.0 IP in an 8-4 Cardinals win towards the end of August.
September 21st Cardinals at Brewers Pick
Do we ride the 9 game win streak in this one? Woodruff is tough but the Cardinals got to him at the end of August. O’Neill has 3 HR in 9 AB vs. Woodruff and Arenado is a decent 3 for 10 in his life vs. the Brewers starter. Why not ride the hot team at +185 against a Brewers squad that has lost 4 of 6.
Cardinals 5 – Brewers 4
Free Pick: Cardinals +185
