St Louis (2-3) at Milwaukee (3-3)
When: Friday, July 31st 2020
Where: Miller Park,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 2:10 ET | TV: Extra Innings
Opening Odds: St Louis -133/8.5
The Milwaukee Brewers dominated at Miller Park last season, and will play their home opener on Friday afternoon when they host the St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee has spent the first week of the 2020 season going 3-3 on the road after taking two of three at the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. Last season, the Brewers finished 49-32 at Miller Park as opposed to 40-41 away from Milwaukee. Star right fielder Christian Yelich is having a horrible start to the season, going 1-for-27 with 12 strikeouts, but hit .347 with 27 home runs in 65 games at Miller Park last year. The Cardinals will try and get back into the win column after dropping their past three after a 2-0 start. St. Louis’ offense needs to get on track as they’ve scored a total of four runs on 15 hits during the three-game skid. Cardinals’ center fielder Harrison Bader is 1-for-11 with five strikeouts through his first four games. Milwaukee won six of 10 meetings with St. Louis at home last year.
Pitchers: Cardinals – Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.57 ERA) | Brewers – Brett Anderson (LY: 13-9, 3.89)
Flaherty looks for a repeat of his Opening Day outing when he allowed just two runs over seven innings in a win over the Pirates last Friday. He struck out 231 batters over 196.1 innings in 2019 while producing a 2.75 ERA, but had trouble with Milwaukee. In three starts at Miller Park, Flaherty went 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA.
Veteran lefty Brett Anderson is expected to come off the injured list (blister) to make his debut for Milwaukee. He won 13 games with Oakland a year ago and signed a one-year deal with the Brewers in the offseason. He is 0-2 in two career starts against St. Louis despite allowing just four runs over 13.2 innings.
Flaherty is definitely a better pitcher than Anderson, but he really struggled in this ballpark last year. Ryan Braun is 7-for-16 with three dingers against Flaherty and the Brewers are worth a shot here as a home dog.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Brewers +125
BETTING TRENDS:
Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cardinals are 16-7 in their last 23 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Cardinals are 31-15 in their last 46 games as a favorite.
Cardinals are 37-18 in their last 55 vs. National League Central.
Cardinals are 9-19 in their last 28 games following an off day.
Cardinals are 4-9 in their last 13 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Cardinals are 3-10 in their last 13 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Cardinals are 2-7 in their last 9 overall.
Cardinals are 2-7 in their last 9 games on grass.
Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Cardinals are 1-10 in their last 11 road games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 0-5 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
Brewers are 6-0 in their last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Brewers are 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
Brewers are 7-0 in their last 7 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Brewers are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 13-3 in their last 16 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Brewers are 13-3 in their last 16 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Brewers are 20-6 in their last 26 vs. a team with a losing record.
Brewers are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. National League Central.
Brewers are 6-2 in their last 8 games as a home underdog.
Brewers are 5-2 in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Brewers are 10-4 in their last 14 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Brewers are 21-9 in their last 30 overall.
Brewers are 21-9 in their last 30 games on grass.
Brewers are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 games following an off day.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
