Free MLB Picks: Marlins at Cardinals MLB Odds: The St. Louis Cardinals will look to get back on the winning track when the Florida Marlins come in for a MLB Picks series on Monday after getting swept in a three games home series versus the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium over the weekend. The magic number of combined Cardinals wins and Chicago Cubs losses is down to 11 for the Red Birds to clinch the National League Central Division. Getting wins against the Marlins, a team still in the hunt for the NL East crown or a Wild Card berth, will be difficult. Florida is 6.5 games in second behind Philadelphia in the East and in third, 5.5 games behind the Rockies and Giants for the Wild Card. Getting the start for St. Louis in Monday's opener is Todd Wellemeyer. The Cardinals righthander is 7-9 on the season with a 5.62 ERA. Countering for the Marlins is righthander Ricky Nolasco. A righthander, Nolasco currently owns an 11-8 record with a 5.23 ERA.
Cardinals veteran pitcher John Smoltz was originally scheduled to take the mound but was pulled from Monday's start due to tendinitis in a shoulder. Wellemeyer was replaced as the fifth starter in the Cardinals rotation upon Smoltz' signing in August and dispatched to the bullpen. Wellemeyer said he was encouraged by a recent bullpen session while preparing for this start. "I feel like I'm actually behind the ball for the first time," Wellemeyer said. "It actually has something on it."
Nolasco has had two appearances at St. Louis, and he's 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA. Nolasco has logged 158 1/3 innings in 27 starts this season. Nolasco won a career high 15 last year, and he also had 11 wins as a rookie in 2006.
Hanley Ramirez had three hits in Florida's 7-2 loss to Washington on Sunday afternoon. The Nationals got the win as +140 road underdogs in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the day's posted total (9.5).
The Cardinals lost to Atlanta 9-2 as a -175 favorite on Sunday. The 11 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (7). Chris Carpenter was pounded for seven runs on nine hits in six innings for St. Louis and Matt Holliday drove in a pair of runs.
Free MLB Picks: Neither of these pitchers have kept runners from crossing the plate. With two starters with ERA's in excess of 5.00 getting the call today, the best recommended wager is on the 9 – total (OVER).
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