MLB Betting: Cardinals Look To Fight Their Way Back In To Playoff Spot On Busy NL Weekend

While many would have projected the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals to be leading their respective National League divisions before the season got underway, it’s the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds currently in top spot in the NL East and NL Central respectively. The Phillies’ playoff hopes have long faded, but the defending World Series champion Cardinals are still alive and fighting to move in to a Wild Card position as the season continues to wind down this weekend.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds
Saturday, 4:05 PM ET

St. Louis still owns the best run-differential in the majors, and is right there in the thick of the Wild Card race despite being eight games back of the Reds for the division lead. The Cardinals have an excellent chance to close that gap this weekend, but it won’t be easy as they lean on the back end of their rotation against the team they are chasing. St. Louis will send Jaime Garcia to the mound Saturday, and considering his 4.00 ERA and the fact that the team has lost seven of the last nine games he started, the Cardinals will need their offense to step up big time. Despite having a worse overall ERA at 4.59, Mike Leake allowed just two earned runs in a 3-2 win the last time he started for Cincinnati against St. Louis, and should feel confident heading in to this sports betting contest.

MLB Betting Pick: Cincinnati Reds

Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, 7:05 PM ET

The Nationals have been one of the most talked about teams in baseball this season, partly because of their position atop the NL East, but mostly because of their promise to end Stephen Strasburg’s year early in order to protect his arm after he underwent Tommy Johns Surgery in the offseason. That sounds like a bad idea to a lot of people, even with Saturday’s starter Gio Gonzalez working a 3.23 ERA with a 16-6 record this season. Gonzalez allowed just one earned with seven strikeouts through seven innings when he won his only meeting against Philadelphia so far this year, and he should be fine opposite the struggling Roy Halladay, who has allowed a combined eight earned runs in his last two sportsbook starts.

MLB Betting Pick: Washington Nationals

Milwaukee Brewers @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Saturday, 7:05 PM ET

While many projected the Brewers had enough to still compete for an NL Wild Card spot, it’s been the Pirates that have emerged as the more likely per head candidate so far this season. Pittsburgh is right there at the top of the Wild Card standings with the Atlanta Braves, and can help themselves this weekend against a Milwaukee club that has been absolutely awful on the road. Saturday’s starter Jeff Karstens is 4-3 with a 3.79 ERA on the year, and he should get ton of run support opposite a pitcher that has allowed 11 runs in his last 12 innings in Randy Wolf. For all of the latest MLB odds for this weekend, make sure to check out the best sports betting sites.

MLB Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates