Saturday MLB Baseball Picks: Cardinals vs Dodgers
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MLB Betting – Cardinals vs Dodgers Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast: FSMW, FSPT
St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Lines at Betus.com
Money Line: -148
Over/Under: 6.5
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St. Louis Cardinals (5-7 through April 13)
Kyle McClellan (1-0, 2.25)
Behold the magic of Dave Duncan! The famous St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach appears to have made something out of (seemingly) nothing again. This time, his project is Kyle McCellan. He converted from reliever to starter to replace injured Adam Wainwright and has done a fine job over his first two big-league starts, allowing three runs and striking out 11 over 12 innings.
The Cardinals’ offense had been dormant for much of April but just might be waking up. St. Louis exploded for 16 runs Wednesday against Arizona. Lance Berkman hit four homers and drove in 10 runs over three games between April 11 and 13. And the man, Albert Pujols, could finally be coming around. After going 5 for 8 on April 12 to 13, he raised his average 79 points in two games.
Los Angeles Dodgers (6-6 through April 13)
Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 1.37)
The Dodgers’ performance has been spotty overall this season but you certainly can’t blame Clayton Kershaw for that. The bona fide ace is really living up to the promise that made him baseball’s top pitching prospect when he broke into the bigs. The 24 strikeouts in 19.2 innings are impressive but expected from a guy with Kershaw’s electric arsenal. The really good sign is the four walks. That’s a hugely improved rate for a guy who usually walks 80-plus guys every year. 
MLB Trends:
Over is 5-2-1 in STL last 8 road games.
Under is 11-5-2 in STL last 18 overall.
Under is 11-5-2 in STL last 18 on grass.
STL are 37-18 in the last 55 meetings.
How good as Matt Kemp been offensively? He went ofer Wednesday and that lowered his average to “only” .425 on the year. He already has seven stolen bases. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew.
The pick:
“The only guy this pitcher has trouble with his Albert Pujols.” This is a recording. Clayton Kershaw dominates most of the hitters he faces but, predictably, the mighty Pujols is one guy the power lefty has solved. Pujols is 6 for 12 with three doubles, a homer and five RBI versus Kershaw in his career. Factor in (a) that Pujols is heating up, (b) that Kershaw is due for an off night and (c) the Dodgers have never faced McClellan as a starter before and the Cardinals upset makes sense to me.
Cardinals vs Dodgers prediction: Dodgers 5, Cardinals 2
