Fred Wills
Saturday's Match ups!
Something happened in last nights game that is way under the radar that not many people noticed. Pujols was intentionally walked and Ryan Ludwick came up and hit a grand slam. When Ludwick is hitting and protecting the Cardinal slugger there is not better lineup in my opinion. Pujols is the best player here and I think the Cardinals go on a run because of it.
Carpenter will take the mound for the Cardinals coming off one of his worse starts of the year going 7IP 3ER on 5H but gave up 2HR in the start. He has only given up a total of 3 all year. He's coming off two sub par starts 13IP 6ER last 2 starts, but I think he'll pitch well against a team who has yet to see him in his career. Only Jose Guillen and Buck has seen him (3-12) Buck is on the DL so that leaves just Guillen. Carpenter is also on 5 Days rest so he'll have that extra pop he needs in my opinion the Cardinals are 28-4 last 32 games in this situation. Cardinals are also 9-0 in Carpenters last 9 as a road favorite -151-200.
Bannister will take the mound for the Royals and if you know me by now I love fading the kid.. I took a couple of starts off from fading which was good since he went 13IP 1ER, but he is do for another relapse of the pitcher he really is. He is also on 5Days rest in which the Royals are 2-9 in the last 11. Bannister will have a tough time with this lineup everyone from Ludwick, to Duncan hit well off him. Cardinals are hitting RHP last 10 .313avg 6.16R/9. Pujols is just 2-8 off him, but expect that to change. In his start at home vs. STL last year he went 4.2IP 9H and 7ER. Royals bullpen is not much better 7.42ERA last 3.
Notables: Royals are 5-10 last 15 home games and have lost 90% of those games by more than 1 run! Schreiber will be behind the plate where the Royals are 2-8 in their last 10 with him there.
Take Cardinals -161 4DIME MLB POD, and Cardinals -1.5 -110 1DIMEBonus