Heading into the 2010 baseball odds season the St Louis Cardinals looked to have one of the best all-around lineups in the sport and figured to be a World Series betting contender, at least on paper.
But it’s funny how paper success doesn’t always translate to success when the baseball lines action gets underway.
With a record of 45-37 the Red Birds are playing well, but not quite well enough in the baseball odds to claim first place in the NL Central. That distinction goes to the Cincinnati Reds, a team that prior the season betting lines experts had picked to finish in the bottom half of the division.
But the Reds have been one of the biggest surprises in the baseball odds competition this season running up an impressive record of 48-36. The Reds have taken care of business both on the mound and at the plate and hold a 2.0 lead over the Cards, a deficit the Cards would love to erase as soon as possible.
They’ll get their chance on Thursday, but it won’t be easy against a very good Colorado Rockies team on the road in the Mile High City.
Colorado (44-38) has been near the top of the NL West standings all season and surprisingly has been getting the job with its pitching –a rare departure for team long known for its hitting in the thin air of Denver.
Against the Cards, though, this team will have to be sharp at the mound and at the plate. Unfortunately for the Rockies, St Louis enters this baseball odds matchup with a distinct advantage on the mound.
Cardinals’ starter Chris Carpenter is having another superb season (9-2, 3.16). Despite a disastrous last outing he’s been very good and very consistent pitching deep into the game and giving up very runs over the past two months.
His opponent on the mound will be Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin who has been suffering through a less than stellar season in the baseball odds. With a record of 5-7 and a 3.59 ERA the Cards ought to be able to get to him early and give the Carpenter the cushion he needs to pitch aggressively and get St Louis the win on the road.