The San Francisco Giants (65-54) are on a tough stretch, wherein they’re facing teams with winning records until September 3. And if they are to catch the train leaving for the postseason, be it as a wildcard or a division winner, they will have to emerge from this stretch with a solid record. A win in San Francisco’s three-game series finale at Busch Stadium is a step towards that goal.
The St. Louis Cardinals (76-43), meanwhile, have less pressure, given that they own the best record in the majors. That being said, they can’t lie low with the Pittsburgh Pirates hot on their heels.
Read on for a detailed preview of this game. You can also click here for an overview of Wednesday’s matchup between the Tigers and the Cubs.
[sc:MLBArticles ]San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
When: Wednesday, August 19, 2015, 7:15 PM ET
Line: San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals – view all MLB lines
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
[sc:MLB240banner ]Having Matt Cain (2-3, 6.05 ERA) pitch like it is 2012 all over again sure would help the Giants in their push for a spot in October baseball. Cain has not looked great since returning to action, but his 5.50 FIP suggests that he’s been a bit unlucky.
Cain has failed to register a win in any of his previous four starts, in which he’s garnered a 0-2 record to go along with an awful 8.68 ERA. In Cain’s most recent outing, he allowed five earned runs on six hits (two were homers) in an 8-5 loss to Washington on August 14.
In any case, the Giants need their offense to show up in the series finale. The trio of Gregor Blanco, Justin Maxwell, and Buster Posey are the likeliest to do damage against Cards starter, Jamie Garcia. Blanco has a lifetime figure of 3-for-6 (.500) opposite the southpaw. Maxwell, on the other hand, is 6-for-11 (.545), while Posey is 3-for-9 (.333).
The over is 3-0 in Cain’s last three starts overall.
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Betting on the St. Louis Cardinals
With the way Jamie Garcia (5-4, 1.57 ERA) is pitching this month, it’s understandable for Cards bettors to feel good about their selection when St. Louis sends the six-year veteran to the mound later tonight.
So far this month, the lefty Garcia is 2-0 with an unforgiving 0.44 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across three starts. That stretch includes St. Louis’ 3-1 win against the Marlins on August 14, wherein Garcia tossed 8.1 innings and allowed no runs on six hits. In addition to Garcia’s solid string of performances this August, he is also 2-1 in his career against San Francisco with a 1.78 ERA and 0.91 WHIP spanning 35.1 innings in five starts.
The offense, meanwhile, is seemingly just as capable as Garcia in towing the Cards into a win. For one, they appear to enjoy facing Matt Cain, who is just 1-3 with an atrocious 10.55 ERA in four starts versus the Cards since 2010. Among those in the Cards’ lineup who has shown terrific hitting against Cain are Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina. Carpenter is 7-for-10 (.700) with five RBIs in his career against Cain, while Molina is 5-for-15 (.313) in the same matchup.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Louis wins, 4-2.
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