MLB Tipping Sheet: Cardinals on the brink of World Series slot

Lance Lynn of the St Louis Cardinals

Richard Fletcher previews tonight's MLB action and believes the St Louis Cardinals won't waste their golden opportunity of getting to the World Series...

San Francisco Giants @ St Louis Cardinals - 01:00 BST

After last night's comprehensive 8-3 late innings victory to take a hefty-looking 3-1 lead in this series, the Cardinals have a golden opportunity at Busch Stadium tonight to join the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. After Tim Lincecum's uncommanding performance in the face of the Cards' middle-order big-hitters yesterday, it's understandable that the Giants now go with their bang-in-form lefty Barry Zito (15-8, 4.15 ERA for the season), who hasn't had a decision go against him since early August. Interestingly, he bounced back from that loss in his next game (his only appearance against the Cardinals so far this year) to go 6.2 innings, whilst allowing only two earned runs with eight hits to register the win. Zito, however, was taken off after just 2.2 innings in his only playoff start so far this year against Cincinnati, when he went for two runs and four hits.

The Cardinals have Lance Lynn on the mound who was superbly consistent during the regular season, going 18-7 with an ERA of 3.78, but he did record a loss in August in his only appearance against the Giants. In this playoff series Lynn started at AT&T Park on 14th October, and he fell victim to the Giants' explosive offense going for four runs in just 3.2 innings. The Giants are now staring elimination in the face, and it seems highly unlikely that Lynn and the battle-hardened Cardinals will blow this last opportunity to reach the World Series in front of their own fans, so be brave and back the Cardinals -1.5 Runs to win in style.

Recommended Bet

Back St Louis Cardinals -1.5 Runs