The MLB odds Wild Card race in the NL is getting very interesting and the way the competition is shaping up it should be a battle right down to the end of the season. Every game is of the utmost importance now and the St Louis Cardinals cannot afford to let games like this one against the struggling Washington Nationals on Thursday August 26th get away from them.
Right now the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants are tied for the top spot in the race for the Wild Card slot, just 1.5 games behind the NL Central leading Reds. But just 1.0 game behind these two teams lurks the Cards, one of preseason favorites in the NL to reach the World Series MLB lines competition.
However, St Louis (68-55) has struggled of late, winning just 4 of its past 10 games despite boasting one of the best hitting lineups and starting rotations in the league.
Albert Pujols is assaulting opposing pitchers like nobody’s business (39 homers) and once again flirting with the Triple Crown. And on the mound the Red Birds have two Cy Young contenders in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter.
Carpenter (14-4, 2.88 ERA), one of the best pitchers in the MLB odds competition, will get the start on Thursday and should all but ensure a victory for the visiting Cards. Carpenter is 5-1 over his past 8 starts and has only allowed more than 2 runs twice during that stretch.
The Nats’ (53-73) season officially ended around June when they fell far enough back in the standings that their post season hopes were shelved for another year. This team hardly even has any pride left to play to for and with rookie sensation Steven Strasbourg on the DL again fans have little reason to watch this team.
Washington will send pitching unknown Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound and watch as the Cards lineup tattoos him in this MLB odds matchup.
Pujols and Matt Holliday should welcome the young man to the MLB lines action and Zimmermann’s first start of the year could be a short one. The Cards will all but certainly win this MLB lines battle and with a loss by both Philly and San Fran could find themselves in a tie for the Wild Card lead.