Are the St. Louis Cardinals on the verge of disaster? They mortgaged a huge piece of their future in Colby Rasmus last week to prepare for their National League Central playoff push. <\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Cardinals vs Brewers Preview & Pick<\/strong> St. Louis Cardinals (57-52 through August 1)<\/strong> But the Cards have lost four of six, all in crucial divisional play, and the team they\u2019re chasing, the Milwaukee Brewers, is pulling away. If the Cards\u2019 trade deadline dealings were all for nought, they could wind up with a furious fan base.<\/p>\n The pressure is on Edwin Jackson, acquired in the Rasmus trade, to deliver. His first start as Cardinal was a good one; he tossed seven innings of one-run ball for the victory. Considering his natural talent and that he has pitching coach Dave Duncan in his corner now, who has made far more out of far less, Jackson could flourish in St. Louis. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Milwaukee Brewers (61-49 through August 1)<\/strong> Home cookin\u2019. That\u2019s all Milwaukee needed to open up a gaping lead in the NL Central. The Brew Crew have won seven straight at home and are 40-14 at Miller Park this season. It doesn\u2019t mean they have a playoff berth locked up, as they\u2019ll soon return to the road, where they\u2019re 14 games under .500. But, as long as they\u2019re at home, they\u2019re a force for the time being.<\/p>\n Randy Wolf brings a respectable 3.79 ERA to the table against St. Louis. He does a solid job against several of the Cards\u2019 top bats, holding Lance Berkman to a .111 average over 27 at-bats and keeping Matt Holliday at a .233 clip. Albert Pujols ,however, bats .323 off wolf with two homers and 11 RBI over 31 at-bats.<\/p>\n STL are 6-18 in their last 24 Wed. games. Jackson has been an inconsistent pitcher for much of his career but he seems to be putting things together of late. <\/p>\n In three starts since the All-Star break, he\u2019s 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA and no homers allowed. He\u2019s lost once in his last 11 starts. \u00a0With Duncan coaching him, I\u2019ll give Jackson the benefit of the doubt. <\/p>\n A league change typically favors a pitcher and I think he can keep Milwaukee off balance. The Brewers have to lose one at home eventually, right?<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Wednesday, August 3, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSMW, FSWI
\nSt. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Betting Lines from 5Dimes.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Brewers -105<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 8.5<\/strong>
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\nEdwin Jackson (8-7, 3.78)<\/p>\n
\nRandy Wolf (7-8, 3.44)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nMIL are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
\nMIL are 7-1 in their last 8 games on grass.
\nUnder is 10-3 in MIL last 13 overall.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n