Before the Preakness odds get out of the gate on Saturday afternoon, we’ll get to see some early baseball. Most of the handicapping focus will be on the Preakness betting but the Milwaukee Brewers-St. Louis Cardinals day game should be interesting.Jeff Suppan and Adam Wainwright will be the on the mound for their respective teams as both the Cardinals and Brewers jockey for position – pun intended – in the National League Central.
Suppan will be facing his former team and although he had been a disappointment to start the season, lately he’s improved. Although they aren’t expecting him to be a staff ace or even a No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 starter, the Brewers would like some reliable innings out of him at the back end of their rotation.
In his first two starts, Suppan gave up 11 runs in his first 7.2 innings pitched (13.75 ERA). Since then, he has given up just 12 earned runs in his remaining 30 innings pitched (3.60 ERA).
Suppan also had some trouble with walks early on, starting his season with a 2:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first two starts. Since then, he’s struckout 19 batters and walked just 10.
Suppan will faceoff with Adam Wainwright, who is 3-1 this season. Even though the record has been good, his ERA has been far higher than normal. Wainwright’s ERA hasn’t been higher than 3.70 in the last three years but it’s at 4.35 this season.
He had a good start to the season in April but has been pounded in back-to-back starts in May.
Wainwright had an ERA of 2.76 in 29.1 innings pitched through April while allowing just one home run. In May, he’s allowed 11 earned runs in 12 innings pitched. More importantly, he’s allowed four home runs in those 12 innings pitched, which far too many for a pitcher that gave up just 12 in 2008 and just 13 in 2007.
Wainwright is still 8-2 in his last 10 home games and he clearly pitchers much better at home. Look for him to get back on the winning track with a strong performance on Saturday.
With no NBA odds or NHL odds on the board for Saturday, take a shot with the Cardinals on the moneyline.
