BASEBALL BETTING LINES – WACHA WANTS TO STOP THE BLEEDING
The St. Louis Cardinals look to be slumping right about now, although they certainly had some breathing room in the National League Central. However, after losing a doubleheader to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, there is a sense of urgency, and that’s why it is a good thing that they have their ace on the mound as they do battle with the Cubbies at 8:05 PM ET at beautiful Wrigley Field in the Windy City. Let’s not forget that for all the BetAnySports customers out there, they can place wagers on the outcome as the game is in progress, through the magic of Live Betting Extra.
St. Louis has a record of 54-30, and that is the best in baseball. However, they have gone 3-6 over their last nine games. And so they are now leading the division by only 4.5 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Cubs, at 46-37, sitting 7.5 games back. Chicago has emerged victorious in seven of its last nine games, as Joe Maddon’s first season with the team is proving to be a success.
Michael Wacha, who has posted a 10-3 record with a 2.66 ERA, will take the mound for the Cards, while the Cubs counter with Jason Hammel (5-4, 2.89 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.
In the baseball betting lines that have been established on this game by the people at BetAnySports , the Cubs are the favorites, but it is kind of tight:
Chicago Cubs (Hammel) -113
St. Louis Cardinals (Wacha) +103
Under 7 runs -125
Over 7 runs +105
One of the amazing things about what St. Louis has done this season is that they are accomplishing it without certain key personnel. Adam Wainwright, generally considered to be their best starting pitcher, is out of action, as is left fielder Matt Holliday. The feeling among some baseball betting observers was that this might catch up to the Cardinals at one point in the season, and indeed a couple of their big offensive weapons are having a hard time of it at the moment. Matt Carpenter has garnered only one hit in his last 12 at-bats, while Jhonny Peralta, who will be in the All-Star game next week, is only two for his last 15.
But that’s why BetAnySports customers know it is very handy to have a guy like Wacha in the rotation. His last two starts have been outstanding, and one of them came against this Cubs team on June 27, as he allowed just a single run over six innings in a victory. Last time out he got a no-decision, but fixed extremely well against the San Diego Padres, allowing one run over seven innings. He’s going to be relatively fresh, as his pitch count has been under 100 in each of his last four starts. Wacha has allowed 32 runs on the year while giving up 87 hits, and that is an excellent ratio.
Hammel has had a rocky time of it lately, going without a victory in each of his last five starts. Sometimes he’s pitched very well; for example, he just had some hard luck against the Dodgers on June 23, as he allowed only two hits over 7-2/3 innings, but got the no-decision. In other games, like his last start against St. Louis, he’s been roughed up a bit. The Cardinals reached him for four runs in four innings on June 28. In fact, if you go back through the last three starts he’s had against this opponent, Hamel has surrendered 12 runs in 15-1/3 innings.
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By Charles Jay
