College football betting players are doing their research getting ready for the upcoming season, but in the major leagues, the hunt for the postseason has begun and two hopefuls will meet at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon when St. Louis meets the Mets in the finale of a three-game set.Cardinals Mets Betting – Thursday, 12:10 PM ET
Blake Hawksworth (4-6, 5.23) was shelled in a 6-5 loss in Chicago as he was tagged for six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 4.1 innings, striking out four and walking three. He was also taken deep twice, and even though the Cardinals came back to make a game of it, Hawksworth put them in too big of a hole to come back from. Hawksworth has faced the Mets once this season, in relief, and he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, and this is his first start against them, going 0-0 in four appearances with no earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. The 27-year-old righthander has a 5.50 ERA in 15 appearances on the road for the Cardinals, and NFL football betting players would compare this to a team putting in their backup as Hawksworth has bounced back in forth between the rotation and the bullpen all year.
Johan Santana (8-5, 2.79) had his fifth straight start in which allowed no more than one run, scattering five hits over seven innings with four strikeouts and a walk in a 6-1 win in Los Angeles over the Dodgers. Santana has been on fire this month, going 3-0 in five starts with a 0.71 ERA, and the opposition is hitting just .199 off of him in July. The two-time Cy Young winner had a no-decision against the Cardinals early this year, tossing a four-hitter over seven scoreless innings, and he’s 2-0 in four starts with a 2.03 ERA against the Cardinals. In 10 starts at Citi Field, Santana is 6-3 with a 2.81 ERA this season.
MLB betting odds should favor the Mets at home, and the matchup is stacked heavily in their favor with Santana on the hill against Hawksworth, who is really a relief pitcher, but he’s been pressed into action with a St. Louis rotation that is, outside of Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, is very week. Sananta has gotten on a roll after a slow start, and with the Mets struggling as they are, he knows how important each game is. Santana’s record against the Cardinals is very encouraging, and he’ll look to send his Mets into the weekend on a high note against a team that many feel will win the National League pennant.
Bet On Sports – New York Mets
