Nine and a half games back of Milwaukee through Tuesday, it\u2019s an understatement to stay the St. Louis Cardinals are on the ropes. They\u2019re more like on the canvas with the referee\u2019s count up to eight seconds. <\/p>\n
Bet On MLB \u2013 Cardinals vs. Brewers Preview & Pick<\/strong> St. Louis Cardinals (71-64 through August 30)<\/strong> They need to make up ground in a hurry to have any hope of a playoff berth and a three-game set with the Brewers this week is a good place to start. After winning the opener on Tuesday, the Cards had won four of five overall.<\/p>\n On Thursday, rookie Brandon Dickson has an awfully tough assignment in his first major-league start. He looked solid in relief appearances against Tampa and Cincinnati in July but now he\u2019s asked to stop a Milwaukee team that is a whopping 50-17 at home through Tuesday. Dickson has a 3.95 ERA over 157.1 innings with Triple-A Memphis this season. He\u2019s shown good control, walking 32 batters.<\/p>\n Milwaukee Brewers (81-55 through August 30)<\/strong> The Milwaukee Brewers may look at this week\u2019s series as a chance to put the nail in St. Louis\u2019 coffin and essentially clinch the division at the start of September. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n They\u2019d probably love a chance to give stars like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun a day off or two during the home stretch as they await a playoff opponent.<\/p>\n Yovani Gallardo will look to add to his career-high single-season win total on Thursday. It\u2019s almost like having Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke join the team took the pressure off Gallardo this season, as he\u2019s blossomed into the ace everyone thought he\u2019d be. Gallardo has posted a 2.59 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over nine starts since the All-Star break. What\u2019s amazing about his second half is that he\u2019s walked just eight batters in 59 innings. That\u2019s a huge development for a guy whose only roadblock used to be control. The sky\u2019s the limit for him now.<\/p>\n STL are 17-5 in their last 22 Thu. games. We don\u2019t want to mess with a rookie pitcher facing baseball\u2019s best home team. Nothing to see here. The Brewers are your pick. If you need any more reason to pick Milwaukee, how about Gallardo\u2019s 9-1 record in 13 starts at home this season? Or his 2.77 ERA in two outings against St. Louis in 2011?<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Thursday, September 1, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSMW, FSWI
\nSt. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers Betting Lines from BetUS.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Brewers -176<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 8.5<\/strong>
\n CLICK here for INDEPTH MLB ATS Stats for this matchup —><\/strong><\/a>
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\nBrandon Dickson (0-0, 0.00)<\/p>\n
\nYovani Gallardo (15-8, 3.37)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nOver is 6-2 in STL last 8 overall.
\nOver is 6-2 in STL last 8 on grass.
\nUnder is 9-2 in MIL last 11 home games.
\nMIL are 2-9 in their last 11 Thu. games.
\nMIL are 40-12 in their last 52 home games.
\nSTL are 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in Milwaukee.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n