Cardinals vs Dodgers Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 6 (10/6): MLB

Credit: photo by Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

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Preview

The postseason is under way and lastnight we saw the Boston Red Sox take the AL wildcard game against the Yankees. Tonight we have the St. Louis Cardinals traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers in thier win or go home NL wildcard matchup. Both teams will roll out their aces as Adam Wainwright will be on the bump for the Cardinals and opposite of him will be Max Scherzer.  The Cardinals enter this game in very good form despite dropping thier last 2 games of the regular season. On the other side the Dodgers enter this game also in good form, going 9-1 in their last 10 games of the regular season.

The Cardinals are rolling right now and made a huge run to get into this wildcard game. Somehow their bullpen survived and were able to help this avergae pitching staff do just enough to go on a run and win some games. Adam Wainwright will make his 29th post season appearance tonight, this will be his 16th start in those games. The Cardinals will need to stay hot and get a quality start out of Wainwright for them to have a chance in this one as they take on very strong team in the Dodgers who boast very good numbers both pitching and hitting.

The Dodgers enter this game in very good form of late, and hoping to keep that trend going as they take on a hot Cardinals team playing with nothing to lose.  They boast one of the top lineups in the league and have some very high quality arms that they can turn to. They are a bit unlucky to be playing in this game when you look at their record and I'm sure many people would be dissapointed if they get eliminated tonight with all things considered. They'll look to get past this Cardinals team that seems to be gaining traction as a deep horse candidate for this postseason.

Pitching matchup

Cardinals

Adam Wainwright (17-7, 3.05 ERA) will be on the mound for the Cardinals when they take on the Dodgers in L.A. Wainwright enters this game with a 1.06 WHIP and 4.23 XFIP. This season he carries a 20.3% strikeout rate and 5.9% walk rate. Wainwright has been great this year at the age of 40 for the Cardinals. He has been great at inducing weak contact this season, although his numbers suggest some negative regression this St. Louis defense ranks number one in the playoffs with a +78 in defensive runs saved so the regression may not come with a good defense behind him. His last time out against this Dodgers team he went 8.1 innings while allowing 4 earned runs, which came on September 8th this month. He has a postseason record of 4-5, 2.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, so Wainwright enters with experience. The Cardinals will need Wainwright to go deep in this one as their bullpen ranks last among the teams in the playoffs as they have struggled with walk issues. 

Dodgers

Max Scherzer (15-4, 2.46 ERA) will be on the mound for the Dodgers when they host the Cardinals. Scherzer enters this game with a 0.86 WHIP and 3.39 XFIP. This season he carries a 34.1% strikeout rate and 5.2% walk rate. Since being traded to the Dodgers he has been even better, in 11 games this season he is 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA paired with a 0.64 WHIP. Scherzer did not end the regular season on a high note as he was hit hard by both the Rockies (in Colorado) and the Padres, pitching 10.1 innings while allowing 10 earned runs. He has faced off against this Cardinals team twice this season pitching great as he went 14 innings, striking out 22 hitters, while not allowing an earned run. This Cardinals team has performed much better against left handed pitching this season as they are a top team in the split while being average against right handers. Scherzer will look to have another good start against this hot Cardinals team tonight.

Prediction

We have a pretty good matchup tonight and a closer one than I think vegas is willing to admit. If Wainwright is able to go deep in this game and limit the innings the bullpen has to throw then the Cardinals can find success tonight. The Dodgers rank 2nd in walk rate this season and the Cardinals bullpen, although fully rested, has had walk issues this season. Scherzer is one of the best pitchers in the league and has shown this season that he can mow down these Cardinals hitters, who have had much better success against left handed pitching. I'll put my faith in both these pitchers as I think both are able to go deep in this game and keep the scoring to a minimum.

PICK: Under 7.5  (-120)

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