Online betting players have been treated to a thrilling World Series so far, complete with pitching duels, historic offensive performances and sloppy bullpen work. It’s going to come down to a seventh game, so MLB wagering fans should strap in for an exciting week of baseball as the season comes to a close in St. Louis with a Cardinals’ victory.
Game 5 – Monday, October 24th, 8:05 PM ET – The Ballpark, Arlington, TX
Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.52) didn’t have his best stuff in Game 1’s 3-2 win at home, but he managed to get by, giving up a pair of runs on five hits over six innings of work. C.J. Wilson (0-3, 7.17) had trouble with his command, walking six and striking out four, but he only allowed three runs on four hits. It’s been an inconsistent postseason for the 30-year-old Wilson, and this is his first appearance at home since Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit. You have to remember that this is only his second year as a starter and Wilson threw 223.1 innings in the regular season, along with 21.1 innings in the postseason, so fatigue is definitely a factor.
Carpenter is built for this and even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he does enough to keep the Cardinals in the game, and even though he has a 6.99 ERA in five starts at the Ballpark, he has a 2-2 record. You also should count on the St. Louis bats to wake up after a disappointing 4-0 loss in Game 4, and as a +113 MLB betting underdog on Monday night, they would be a smart bet.
Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals
Game 6 – Wednesday, October 26th, 8:05 PM ET – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Colby Lewis (1-1, 2.95) should be familiar with going out on the road as all three of his starts in the playoffs have been away from home, and he pitched 6.2 solid innings in Game 2’s 2-1 win for the Rangers, allowing a run on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Jaime Garcia (0-2, 3.97) was on the other side, tossing a three-hitter over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk, but he was let down by Jason Motte, who blew the save in the 9th inning. That was his second straight no-decision, even though he has settled down since getting off to a rough start in the postseason.
Strangely, something similar will happen in this game as well as the Rangers try to stave off elimination with a big performance. Look for the Texas bats to come alive late in the game and in particular, one of their big bats, like Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton, who is battling what he thinks is a sports hernia. The Cardinals will probably be favored, but Texas is the MLB betting play on Wednesday night.
Betting Edge: Texas Rangers
Game 7 – Thursday, October 27th, 8:05 PM ET – Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO (If necessary)
The Rangers’ Matt Harrison (1-1, 502) and the Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse (0-2, 7.82) have been penciled in as the starters for Game 7, and neither pitcher made it out of the fourth inning in a 16-7 win for St. Louis in Game 3, which was highlighted by Albert Pujols’ three-homer performance. Harrison gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 3.2 innings, while Lohse gave up three runs on five hits over three innings of work in a game for the offensive fans. It’s doubtful that the two will have that type of game again in Game 7, especially in St. Louis where the games have been relatively low-scoring due to a few factors, but most likely the weather. It has been cold and damp in St. Louis, which makes the ball heavier. In Texas, the ball is much easier to hit and the Ballpark has always been known as a “hitter’s park”.
This is going to be up in the air and again, the bullpens will probably come into play as Harrison doesn’t have much postseason experience and the Rangers are asking him to pitch a Game 7 in the World Series. Lohse, well, he isn’t a very good pitcher and definitely pitched above his weight during the regular season. But at home, in a Game 7 setting and a managerial edge with St. Louis’ Tony LaRussa, St. Louis is the sports betting pick to make here.
Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals
