By Greg Dempson
Pinnacle Odds: St. Louis Cards +149 vs NY Mets -162 Total 6.5
The Cardinals travel to the “Big Apple” for a three game series off a taxing evening vs. the Dodgers. The Sunday night ESPN contest took 3:49 to play as in temperatures of 95 with a reported heat index of 108.
Cardinals starter Mike Mayers was rocked for 9 earned runs on 8 hits lasting 1.1 innings. Their bullpen did an amicable job limiting the Dodgers to zero additional runs on 5 more hits while using four pitchers.
No doubt the Cards sent tonight’s starter ahead and they are hoping for 7 strong innings from right hander Carlos Martinez, (9–6 with an ERA of 2.83. He has allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in his last two starts, striking out 16 in 12 innings. Martinez has also limited the opposition to 3 runs or less, in each of his last 9 starts going 5–1. His road ERA is 1.71 in seven starts, (WHIP of 1.035.)
He has faced the Mets five times, with two starts, Martinez/Team going 2–0 while posting an ERA of 0.00, WHIP of 1.072. He face the Mets at Shea Stadium last year winning 9–0 while allowing no earned runs through 6.3 innings on 4 hits, 2 walks vs. 5 strikeouts. He also faced the Mets at home in 2014 pitching 4 innings, (in a spot start,) allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits, 4 walks and 3 strikeouts as the Cardinals won (6–2.)
Noah Syndergaard settled for a no decision last Tuesday vs. the Cubs pitching 5.7 innings while allowing one unearned run. He has pitched more than 6 innings only once in his last 5 starts while winning 7 out of his last 9 contests.
He is 5–2 at home with an ERA of 2.34, WHIP of 1.005. In his last home start he allowed 3 earned vs. the Nationals in 4.37innings walking 3 and striking out 5. Syndergaard is 0–1 vs. the Cardinals in his one career start, (at Busch Stadium on July 17, 2015.) He allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits through 7 innings.
Around the Diamonds
· The Cardinals are 11 games above .500 on the road, 27–16, averaging 6.0 RPG and they’re averaging 5.1 RPG vs. righties although getting that type of run support for Martinez will be difficult with Syndergaard on the mound for the Mets.
· As for the Mets, they are 6 games above .500 at home, (26–20,) averaging 3.8 RPG at Shea Stadium.
· The Cardinals are 6–1 and+7.80-units against the money line in road games vs. an NL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.150 or better this season.
· Martinez is 16–04 and +11.90-units against the money line vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .250 or worse the last two seasons.
My Everyedge Record In Review
· My last selection on the Giants at +103 on the money line lost Friday evening and my Every Edge MLB record is now 25–12–1. (My Friday evening opinion on the Angles/Astros staying under in the first 5 innings won, (I should-a, could-a, – but didn’t!)
All Systems Go
· Play against any National League team with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better on the season, (applies to playing against the Mets,) when said team is averaging 1.25 or more home runs per game on the season. (NOTE: Cardinals starter Martinez has allowed 1 home run in 47.3 innings when away from home.)
· By playing against the Mets tonight this system is 170–130 = 56.7% the past five seasons, but more importantly +86.50-units of profit. With the Cardinals bullpen being taxed last night by pitching almost 8 innings, I’ll opt for a first 5 innings investment.
Cards vs Mets Pick
My Everyedge selection is on the Cardinals at +156 in the first 5 innings.