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St. Louis Cardinals (66-60) vs Chicago Cubs (56-70
Sunday August 21 – 8:05PM (ESPN)
Pitching Probables: Jake Westbrook vs Rodrigo Lopez
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The St. Louis Cardinals are not going to qualify for the playoffs with the way they are playing lately. They are looking to avoid a series sweep tonight after getting shutout by Matt Garza and the bullpen yesterday afternoon. Starter Jake Westbrook has already lost twice to the Chicago Cubs this season and is hardly what anyone would consider a stopper these days (or ever). The Cardinals were impressive earlier in the season, overcoming quite a lot with standout performances from unexpected places (see Lance Berkman, Kyle McClellan) but the magic seems to have dried up in a hurry and now this teams looks pretty listless. They are quickly becoming one of those teams that are tricky to back since they are out of the race.
Just when you want to write the Chicago Cubs off completely they show just a tiny hint of promise. Matt Garza was fantastic again yesterday and this time he actually got credit for it as Carlos Marmol closed things out (quietly) in the ninth. Today it will be much more difficult as retread starter Rodrigo Lopez takes the hill while the Cubbies gun for the series sweep. Lopez has one start against St. Louis this season and got hammered (not much of a surprise really). However, his numbers are not nearly as awful as his pedigree would suggest and he has been noticeably sharper at Wrigley Field, where the Cubbies are 3-1 when he starts.
Prediction: It is hard to like either of these starters in this spot so the logical choice seems to be to wager on the over. The Cards can supply their part of the equation but the Cubs offense is wildly unpredictable.
Score Prediction: Chicago Cubs – 6, St. Louis Cardinals – 5
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