Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Wednesday April 12th, the (2-4) St. Louis Cardinals will be on the road to take on the (3-3) Washington Nationals.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Nationals 4.6 – Cardinals 3.4 with an over/under of 8.1.

Starting Pitchers:

STL: Mike Leake (0-1, 1.12) vs WAS: Max Scherzer (1-0, 2.70)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Nationals 4.33 (15^th) > Cardinals 3.17 (26^th)

Batting Average: Nationals .275 (3^rd) > Cardinals .208 (26^th)

On Base Percentage: Nationals .356 (3^rd) > Cardinals .316 (17^th)

Total Bases: Nationals 97 (6^th) > Cardinals 57 (30^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Nationals 5 (7^th) > Cardinals 2 (26^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Cardinals 4.00 (16^th) > Nationals 6.04 (30^th)

Batting Average Against: Cardinals .235 (12^th) > Nationals .286 (30^th)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Cardinals 1.17 (8^th) > Nationals 1.47 (25^th)

Strikeouts: Nationals 51 (16^th) > Cardinals 47 (21^st)

Saves: Nationals 3 (6^th) > Cardinals 0 (30^th)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Nationals 2 (7^th) > Cardinals 4 (21^st)

Summary:

St. Louis enters the game really struggling at the plate ranking 26^th in runs per game (3.17) but are 16th in ERA (4.00).  Washington ranks 15^th in runs per game (4.33) but are dead last in ERA (6.04).  Obviously Washington has a big advantage in this pitching match-up with their ace Max Scherzer on the mound.  Scherzer has held Cardinals hitters to a combined .244 average against with only two homers allowed in 90 total at bats.  The Nationals have had great success versus Mike Leake combining for a .319 average against.  Adam Lind has five hits in eight career at bats against Leake.

The Nationals bullpen has been shaky to start the season and did nothing to fill the void left by closer Mark Melancon in free agency.  Washington has been hitting well in the early going and should be able to get Leake out of the game quickly.  The bullpen issues of Washington should be nullified by the likelihood that Scherzer pitches effectively deep into this game.  Because the Cardinals can’t score runs right now, I expect Washington to win this one convincingly at home.

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