The Diamondbacks have been hot over the past four weeks, getting themselves back into the playoff picture in the National League. They look to continue that momentum against the MLB’s best club. It will be a challenge for the D-backs, who’ve lost seven of their last 10 to the Cardinals at Chase Field.
ODDS ANALYSIS
They’re human after all. The Cardinals had their lead atop the NL Central trimmed during a 2-4 stretch before bouncing back with a 10-3 win at San Diego on Sunday, avoiding their first sweep of the season. St. Louis allowed 20 runs in three games with the Padres, cashing the over in all three and was in the red 3.24 units during the last seven games. The Cards still own the best record in the majors and are up 22.77 units overall on the moneyline. They haven’t been as profitable on the road, up 4.32 units with a 32-26 record.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been quietly working their way back into the NL West race. The D-backs completed a four-game sweep of Cincinnati with Sunday’s 4-0 win, moving above .500 for the first time since April 22 and closed within five games of the slumping first-place Dodgers. The D-backs are tied for baseball’s third-most wins at 18-10 since July 25, but have had their problems with St. Louis. The Cards swept a three-game home series in late May and have won seven of their last 10 at Chase Field.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Lance Lynn (9-8, 2.94 ERA) hasn’t been sharp recently, recording only two outs while giving up seven runs in a 10-5 home loss to Pittsburgh on Aug. 13. He then walked a season-high five Tuesday but yielded only two runs over 6.2 innings in a 2-0 loss to San Francisco.
Lynn has gotten the best of the D-backs during his career. He’s 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in six starts against them. He received a no-decision in a six-inning start against them in May, when he walked four and allowed two earned runs in a 4-2 home win.
Robbie Ray (3-9, 3.38 ERA) allowed three runs over six innings Wednesday but didn’t get any runs from the offense for the second consecutive outing in a 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh. Ray hasn’t won in his last seven starts and is 0-5 with a 5.18 ERA in his past six turns, including defeats in four straight. His last victory came on July 7 at the Rangers. Ray has never faced St. Louis.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You want to be there, you want to be playing for something. These guys are always playing for their pride. They’re going to bust their tail regardless, but when you see that you have a shot, we are playing some teams that we are going to be fighting for that playoff spot, whether it’s the division or wild card, so they feel it.” – Arizona manage Chip Hale
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Cardinals have been able to close out games, which is partly why they have the best record in the major leagues. The team’s starting pitching has been phenomenal but the bullpen, with right-handed closer Trevor Rosenthal and lefty setup man Kevin Siegrist, is just as dominant. Except for their saves totals, their numbers are nearly identical. Rosenthal has 38 saves in 40 chances, has a 1.44 ERA with 19 walks and 63 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. Siegrist, his eighth inning counterpart, has a 5-0 record and five saves, but the other stats are strikingly similar. Siegrist has also thrown 56.1 innings, owns a 1.76 ERA, with 20 walks and 67 strikeouts. The two represent the best 1-2, right-left relief combo in baseball.
PROP TALK
After taking a day off Sunday, the D-backs are hopeful the rest doesn’t cool off A.J. Pollock, who’s hitting .481 in his last 11 games after going 11 for 15 with four RBIs and four stolen bases in three games against the Reds. Pollock has been scorching since the All-Star break hitting .388 with a .444 on-base percentage, collecting 50 hits in 32 games. Pollock went 2 for 2 when facing Lynn in May and is a .330 hitter at Chase Field this season.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Diamondbacks just routed the Reds in a four-game series to finish off a 10-game road trip and return home thinking they can make a run to the top of the NL West or get in position for a wild card. Blasting Cincy is one thing, taking it to the best team in the Majors is quite another. The Cards have sputtered before but always bounce back after looking beatable for a few games. Those games passed in San Diego.
St. Louis 6, Arizona 2
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Arizona Diamondbacks will commence Monday, August 24, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at Chase Field. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
