Before they hit the All-Star break, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates will first have to engage in an interesting four-game series between the top two teams in the National League. The Cardinals are currently regarded as the best team in baseball. The Pirates, however, will have none of that as they look to cut into St. Louis’ lead in the NL Central. Which team will draw first blood?
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[sc:MLBArticles ]St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Thursday, July 9, 2015, 7:05 PM ET
Line: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – view all MLB lines
Betting on the St. Louis Cardinals
[sc:MLB240banner ]Carlos Martinez (9-3, 2.70 ERA) has been one of the best hurlers in the National League these days. And he’ll have to pitch like one if he intends to get even with the Pirates, who hit him hard the last time he faced them.
Martinez, who has stitched together nine straight quality starts, was just not himself on May 9, when the Cards lost to Pittsburgh, 7-5. In that game, Martinez yielded all of the Bucs’ seven runs on seven hits before being mercifully pulled off the mound in the sixth inning.
Martinez, however, has come up with gaudy numbers ever since that loss. In 10 starts following his debacle against the Pirates, Martinez has reeled in a 6-2 record and a 1.65 ERA. In his most recent start, Martinez held the Padres to just one run while striking out five batters in six plus innings of work to lead St. Louis to a 2-1 win last Saturday.
As for the Cards’ offense, they’ll be counting on Jason Heyward and Pete Kozma to make things happen at the plate. Heyward, who is batting 10-for-30 (.333) over his past eight games, may see his numbers climb later tonight. He is 5-for 15 (.333) with a double and two RBIs in his career against Jeff Locke. Kozma, meanwhile, is 2-for-6 (.333) also in his career opposite the Bucs’ righty.
St. Louis is 7-3 in Martinez’s last 10 road starts.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The struggle is real for the Cards whenever they face a lefty this season. Despite a right-hander-heavy lineup, St. Louis has simply been one of the worst hitting teams against southpaws. In fact, they are batting a very poor .228 against a lefty this season—third worst in the majors.
And with southpaw Jeff Locke on the mound for Pittsburgh later tonight, the Pirates are hoping to pounce again on St. Louis’ troubles against lefties. For the record, the Cards are 1-6 in their last seven games against a left-handed starter.
Locke (5-4, 4.15) enters the series opener looking to build on his strong eight-inning start against Cleveland last Saturday. In that game, Locke allowed no runs, no walks, and just two hits while striking out six to help Pittsburgh eke out a 1-0 win.
But Locke, who is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in six career starts against St. Louis, will need his teammates to do better on offense than in the Cleveland game. Look for the pair of Jordy Mercer and Andrew McCutchen to provide the goods later tonight. Mercer is 4-for-9 (.444) lifetime against Cards’ ace Martinez. McCutchen, on the other hand, is 3-for-9 (.333) with a double and a homer in the same career matchup.
Pittsburgh is 4-1 in Locke’s last five home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Pittsburgh wins, 5-4.
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