The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals each will be looking for a first series win on the season when the clubs play tonight (8:15 p.m. ET) in the rubber game of their three game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Left hander Zach Duke (0-0) will get the start for Pittsburgh while right hander Todd Wellemeyer (0-0) gets the call for St. Louis.
Sports odds professionals at online sportsbook BetUS.com list the Cardinals as -165 moneyline favorites with an 8 ½ -run total. Pittsburgh backers are getting +145 moneyline odds. The BetUS run line (- 1 ½) prices has Cardinals backers getting +130 while the Pirates (+1 ½) at -150.
The Cardinals used the long-ball on Tuesday to propel their way to a 9-3 victory over the Pirates after blowing a big lead in the ninth-inning on Monday to lose the season opener.
Chris Duncan, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina homered, and each starting position player reached base safely in the Cardinals first win. Kyle Lohse only gave up three runs in seven frames, and Colby Rasmus was 2-for-4 at the plate in his MLB debut.
Duke arguably has more to prove than any other Pirates starter this year. Memories of his sensational 2005 season seem long gone after the three subpar years that followed. But if anyone looks refreshed as Spring Training comes to a close, it’s Duke. His results this spring were impressive, and Duke says that his arm strength is as good as it’s ever been.
Wellemeyer was one of the biggest surprises in the National League in 2008, even if his breakout season was obscured by an even more noteworthy story on the other side of the ball, in Ryan Ludwick. At age 29, he thrived in his first full season as a Major League starter. Wellemeyer had a bit of a rough spring, never really getting going, but he'll have every opportunity to show that his 2008 season was reflective of the quality of pitcher he really is.
Pirates vs Cardinals Prediction: Both Duke and Wellemeyer have much to prove in '09 and today will be a good time to start. This game is a tossup not knowing how either pitcher will show up. Gamblers had better go with the home team in this one. Busch Stadium is a tough venue giving always giving the team a home edge.
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