Is Milwaukee a Safe MLB Betting Pick Against St. Louis?

Is Milwaukee a Safe MLB Betting Pick Against St. Louis?

Written by on May 2, 2017

It’s Game 3 of a four-game NL Central series on Wednesday night from the Gateway City as St. Louis hosts Milwaukee. The Cardinals might catch a break if one of the Brewers’ best hitters, Ryan Braun, is out of the lineup. For the Brewers, they’re coming off a tough series loss against the Braves this past weekend, ending at 1-2. For the Cardinals, they also had a rough weekend series, losing 1-2 against the Cincinnati Reds. Both Mulwaukee and St. Louis started their series yesterday, with a victory taken by the Cardinals. Let’s check out what’s in store for this matchup o Wednesday.

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Milwaukee at St. Louis MLB Betting Preview & Game Info

When: Wednesday, May 3, 8:15 PM ET Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Probable pitchers (away/home): Chase Anderson/Adam Wainwright TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv RadioMilwaukee / St. Louis Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On Milwaukee?

Will Braun be in the lineup? He wasn’t on Monday after leaving Sunday’s early. The Brewers cited a tight right trapezius, one of the muscles in the shoulder and neck area. But Braun indicated there were other issues in his arm of greater concern, though he did not specify them. Craig Counsell’s options for left field include Eric Thames along with Hernan Perez and Nick Franklin. Braun has been the Brewers’ second-most productive hitter to Thames, batting .287 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 24 games. “There’s a couple things in my arm,” Braun said. “Hopefully not too bad, but probably more than a day or so.” The Brewers have designated LHP Tommy Milone for assignment. The move clears a spot for Rob Scahill on the active roster. Milone has been rocked to the tune of a 6.43 ERA through three starts and three relief appearances this season. Scahill was off to a good start in Triple-A this year and posted a 3.38 ERA over 31 relief appearances between the Brewers and Pirates last season. Strong production at the top of their order in Jonathan Villar, Thames, Braun and Hernan Perez has topped opponents by 19 runs in the first inning, a league high. Milwaukee scored 28 runs and allowed a mere nine runs in just 26 April games. The Brewers have not won a series from St. Louis since taking 2 of 3 games from 4/28-4/30, 2014 at Busch Stadium. The team has gone 0-15- 2 in series play against the Cardinals since then. It’s right-hander Chase Anderson (2-0, 2.10) for Milwaukee on the mound. Anderson entered his Friday start against the Braves with the National League’s best ERA and finished that night seventh, at 2.10. He worked six innings against the Cardinals last week without allowing an earned run. Anderson took a no- decision vs. St. Louis on April 22 in allowing no earned over six innings.

Why Bet On St. Louis?

Third baseman Jhonny Peralta (illness) could be activated from the disabled list for the beginning of the Cardinals’ May 8-10 series in Miami. Peralta took grounders and hit in the batting cage Friday and will up his baseball activities in the next few days. He could travel to Florida by the end of the week to play in extended spraining training games or begin a rehab assignment. Peralta is working his way back from an upper respiratory illness that was made worse when he had an allergic reaction to medication. Jedd Gyorko has played well in Peralta’s absence and could remain the starter at third base even after the .120-hitting Peralta returns. Stephen Piscotty closed the first month of the season hitting .229/.368/.371. He homered twice, driven in 11 runs, struck out 15 times and walked 14. Six of his 16 hits have gone for extra-bases. The numbers show Piscotty’s increased patience has not yet been rewarded with power production. Despite a decreased average and slugging percentage, his .368 on-base percentage is actually a bit higher than it was last April. His strikeout rate is down to 17.2 percent. His walk rate has increased to 16.1 percent. His current batting average on balls in play (.259) is down from his career average (.328). It’s Adam Wainwright (2-3, 6.12) on the mound. Wainwright gave up nine hits on four earned runs and a walk over 6.1 innings in Thursday’s 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays in the nightcap of a doubleheader. Wainwright hit the 100-pitch mark for the second straight start while going the longest he had in any of his five starts. It was the veteran righty’s second consecutive win as well, and he’s now lowered his ERA from 7.24 to 6.12 during that stretch. The 35-year- old right-hander pitched to plenty of contact — notching only five swinging strikes — but turned in another solid effort after a couple of shaky appearances earlier in April.

Milwaukee at St. Louis MLB Betting Pick: St. Louis Cardinals

Wainwright beat the Brewers in Milwaukee on April 21 in allowing two earned over five. Cardinals are 5-0 in Wainwright’s last 5 starts vs. Brewers. Brewers are 0-4 in Anderson’s last 4 starts vs. Cardinals.