MLB Preview and Free Pick – Cardinals vs Brewers 8-26-08
August 26, 2008
This two-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers will have serious impact on the NL Wildcard race.
Milwaukee is currently the front-runner in the Wildcard standings, with St. Louis trailing them by 3.5 games. The Brewers have the tougher schedule ahead, so they really need to extend their lead if they would like a little more security.
The Cardinals have had a very up and down season, and while they have exceeded any expectations that anyone has for them, Tony La Russa and company are not going to be satisfied with anything less than a playoff birth.
St. Louis comes into tonight’s game on a good run overall and at home. They’ve taken 7 of their last 10 overall and they’ve won 11 of their last 15 games at Busch Stadium. Trends like this will need to continue if they are serious about making the playoffs in 2008.
Milwaukee has been playing well lately overall, but a few trends should have them worried. For instance, they’ve lost 7 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning record. That doesn’t bode well for their final month, where they will be facing some of the better teams in the National League. There should also be a concern about Ben Sheets, who seems to be suffering from the same problems as the club is. When Sheets starts for the Brewers, they are just 2-5 in his last 7 starts against teams with a winning record. There’s a pattern starting to emerge, and it is beginning to look like Milwaukee is having problems finishing out the season against quality opponents.
The NL Central race has been a tight one this season. It looks like the Chicago Cubs will end up with the pennant baring any significant collapse. The interesting thing, however, is that we’ve got two teams in the Brewers and Cardinals that each have a very good chance to grab that NL Wildcard spot. Making the playoffs is the hard part, just about anyone can get hot at the right time and end up as World Series Champions. You better believe that this series match up will have the feel of the playoffs.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
B. Sheets (11-7, 3.16), T. Wellemeyer (11-4, 3.79)
TUESDAY’S FREE MLB PICK: St. Louis Cardinals +105 (list Wellemeyer)
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