Mike Leake (9-6, 3.44 ERA) and Michael Wacha (15-4, 2.80 ERA) start in the first of a three-game series between the San Francisco Giants (68-59) and the St. Louis Cardinals (82-45) at AT&T Park. The Cardinals come into this series riding a five-game winning streak. Action begins at 10:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 28 and can be seen on KNTV, FSMW and MLBN.
Leake pitched 6.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering one run, striking out six and walking one in a 3-2 defeat to the Pirates. Wacha went 6.0 innings, surrendering one run, striking out three and walking two in a 10-3 win over the Padres in his last outing. Matt Carpenter (.258, 74 Rs, 19 HRs, 67 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run and one RBI.
St. Louis takes on San Francisco as a -120 favorite. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at six runs. The Giants have an overall money line of +354 and a record as the underdog of 30-30. San Francisco has recorded a disappointing 1-6 record as the underdog over its last 10 games.
In the other locker room, St. Louis is coming in with an overall money line of +2,571 and an impressive record of 68-29 as the favorite. St. Louis’s pitching staff has set the standard for its league, with an NL-low 2.98 ERA on the road.
The Cardinals lead the season series, 2-1. The Giants have a 51-47 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Wacha takes the mound. Leake (RHP) will be on the hill against the Cardinals, who have a very good 63-30 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – StL, O/U – Over
Notes
The Giants are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Cardinals have a 34-19 record when opponents give up that many walks or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Giants are 5-39. The Cardinals have a 21-30 record when opponents outhit them.
San Francisco and St. Louis both rank near the bottom of the league in home runs. San Francisco sits at 22nd with 108 home runs this season and St. Louis ranks 23rd with 107.
Ranking sixth, St. Louis is in the top 10 of the league in hits, notching 8.60 per game. San Francisco ranks in the top five at second with 9.20.
Ranking 16th, St. Louis is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.714). San Francisco ranks in the top 10 at seventh with an OPS of .736.
When the Cardinals allow at least one home run, they are 33-30. When the Giants allow one or more homers, they have a 30-43 record.
