MLB Baseball Picks & Tips: Chicago Cubs vs St Louis Cardinals

Sunday, April 15, 2012

by Mike Stewart

It has been a weekend of celebration for the St Louis Cardinals, with the World Series banner going up Friday and rings being handed out before the game Saturday.

The rival Chicago Cubs were able to spoil the mood Friday but could not make it two in a row as the Cardinals bounced back on Saturday despite shedding another everyday player in third baseman David Freese.

- Chicago Cubs vs St Louis Cardinals
When: 2:15 PM ET, Sunday, April 15, 2012
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: CS Chicago, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

The St Louis have opened as 177-moneyline favorites on Wager Web Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Paul Maholm (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Freese (finger) joins Lance Berkman (calf) as middle-of-the-order hitters waiting out day-to-day injuries for St. Louis. Fortunately Yadier Molina is still around, and the catcher drove in a pair and stole a base Saturday. The Cubs had scored 17 runs in back-to-back games before managing a single run Saturday. Marlon Byrd continues to struggle, batting .071 (2-for-28) through the first eight games, while Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano carry the Cubs offense in the early going.

Maholm did not fare well in his first start for Chicago, getting lit up for six runs and six hits in four innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday. The long-time Pittsburgh Pirate has plenty of experience against St. Louis, owning a 4-6 record with a 3.72 ERA in 15 career starts. Maholm has held Matt Holliday to 3-for-24, though two of those hits were home runs.

Westbrook had a stronger start to his season, surrendering an unearned run and three hits in seven innings to beat Cincinnati. The veteran sinkerballer has made five starts against the Cubs, going 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA. Soriano and Byrd are a combined 5-for-36 (.139) against Westbrook.

1. Berkman is likely to miss Sunday's finale.

2. Each of the first two games have been delayed by rain.

3. Cubs coach Dave McKay, who served as first base coach under Tony La Russa in St. Louis last season, received his ring Saturday but did not line up with the rest of the 2011 Cardinals.

MLB BASEBALL PREDICTION: St Louis 4, Cubs 3

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alfonso soriano - busch stadium - chicago cubs - dave mckay - david freese - jake westbrook - lance berkman - marlon byrd - matt holliday - paul maholm