The Pirates are red hot right now and will look to sweep the Cardinals for a 4th straight time. Adam Wainwright on the hill for the Cardinals gives us great value on the Pirates. However, Wainwright has struggled vs. the Pirates in his career with a 5.20 ERA and Pirates have a .365 average and .999 OPS in 115 AB. Pitt is swinging the bats well right now more than 2 runs more per 9 innings compared with the Cardinals over the last 10 games and it shouldn't get any easier with Jeff Locke on the mound.
Locke was kind of fade material for me for a while due to his inability to consistently have control, but I'm passed that especially against a team like the Cardinals who are struggling and have not hit lefties nearly as well as righties all year long. Cardinals have one of the best bullpens in the game and it has showed especially at home where they carry a 2.12 ERA so it's hard to see how the Cardinals will score runs. Cardinals are currently stuck in 17 inning scoring drought and Adam Wainwright is making another road start on 4 days rest after throwing 100+ pitches in 3 consecutive starts. In his last 3 road starts on 4 days rest he has a 5.21 ERA and has failed to allow fewer than 3 ER. The Pirates magic ride will continue.. for now
I backed the Rangers last night and got lucky because they were hitting in the clutch. In my defense I did predict CJ Wilson's poor outing and that the bullpen would let him down too. Same thing goes here. Jerome Williams is another pitcher who struggles with control walking 3 batters per 9, but he's even worse over his last 5 starts covering just 18 IP he's allowed 28 runs while striking out just 11 guys and walking 11 guys. Rangers have now only had 3 pitchers of the 12 who average 3 walks or more pitching in Arlington go more than 6 innings. The Angels are dead right now and their bullpen and defense do not do them any justice. Meanwhile the Rangers are in the middle of a pennant race. Perez should get the job done he's got an ERA under 2 at home this year and the Angels have struggled at time vs. LHP they are not familiar with.
