ODDS ANALYSIS
As expected it’s been a struggle for the Phillies out of the gate in 2015. The major’s worst run scoring team averages only 2.76 per game and that’s after getting nine in the first two games against the Cards and 14 in the last three overall. Pitching has kept them from being a complete disaster but the Phils are still down 3.46 units through their first 21 games on the moneyline and 7.58 units on the runline. The over is 10-8-3 in the Phils’ first 21 games but the under has cashed in each of David Buchanan’s last two starts.
The Cards are the Cards. They have solid pitching and timely hitting and are contenders again in the NL Central. What they do makes them a profitable bet. St. Louis is up 5.79 units on the moneyline through the first 19 games and is more profitable on the runline in the black 10.69 units. The Cards typically play low-scoring games with the under at 11-8 in their first 19 games. It’s kind of a crap shoot with a kid making his MLB debut but luckily for Tim Cooney he faces the light-hitting Phils in his first game.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Philadelphia’s David Buchanan (0-4, 7.52 ERA) finally enjoyed a little bit of success Saturday in a start against the Braves allowing two hits and three runs with three walks and three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. An Andrelton Simmons solo home run in the seventh broke up the shutout and the bullpen allowed two other runs to score in the loss.
Buchanan started two games against the Cards last season going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 12.2 innings.
Tim Cooney (0-0, NA) will make his Major League debut taking the rotation spot that opened following Adam Wainwright’s injury. A third-round pick in the 2012 Draft, Cooney led the Pacific Coast League with 14 wins last season and has a 3.50 ERA and 324 strikeouts over 385.1 minor league innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Watching how he’s been throwing and also the kind of season he had not just last year, but how he threw in the spring. There were a lot of things – he had a real good spring for us. I tell them too, what you guys do when you get an opportunity to pitch in front of us creates opportunities and I think he’s made the most of it in the spring and we’ll give him a chance to show what he can do at this level.” – Cards manager Mike Matheny on Tim Cooney
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Like any good team the Cardinals feast off mediocre pitching with a solid lineup that works the count, doesn’t strikeout and has a knack for the timely hit. The Cards blasted Severino Gonzalez for seven runs in the first three innings Tuesday and could have similar success against David Buchanan. Manager Mike Matheny juggled his lineup trying to jolt his offense and the move paid off with season-highs in runs and hits Tuesday. Buchanan hasn’t lasted long in any of his starts, averaging five innings an outing, and has allowed 24 hits and 12 walks for a 1.77 WHIP. If the Cards get chances with RISP expect them to take advantage.
PROP TALK
Known more for his power numbers than his batting average, Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday is confounding the baseball experts so far this season. Though he is a career .308 hitter, Holliday is among the league leaders with a .383 average through 18 games but the power has been absent so far with just one home run and three extra-base hits. Holliday does lead the team with 12 RBIs and has always been a run-producer in the middle of the order. Look for Holliday to drive in a few runs off David Buchanan as he continues to swing a hot stick with a few more hits.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Let’s face it David Buchanan isn’t going to remind Phillies fans of Steve Carlton on the mound. He made it out of the sixth inning for the first time in four starts Saturday and has yet to allow fewer than three earned runs with more walks than strikeouts, not very good numbers from a guy in the middle of the rotation. He’s pitched better in his past two starts but still not good enough to get a win with the light-hitting lineup backing him up.
The Cards will work the rest of the season without ace Adam Wainwright, but like the Cards do, they just dip into their talent-rich farm system and come out with another gem to fill in. Tim Cooney gets the first shot at taking over in the rotation and lucky for him he gets a Phillies team that has a hard time getting hits and scoring runs. The Cards were shut down by Cole Hamels in the series opener, but Buchanan isn’t Hamels and behind the Matts – Carpenter, Holliday and Adams – the Cards get enough to support Tim Cooney in his big league debut for the win.
St. Louis 7, Philadelphia 4
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2015, at 1:45 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. The game will be televised live on Comcast Sports Philadelphia and FOX Sports Midwest.
