The Rockies are simply out of synch and suffering the proverbial letdown after their NL Pennant last year. Cash the St. Louis Cardinals as underdogs tonight on the road in Colorado.
Maybe they still haven't gotten over being swept in last year's World Series by the Boston Red Sox. But there's something wrong with the Colorado Rockies who seem to have lost their identity.
Yet despite losing 12 of their past past 15 games, the Rockies are favored today against the St. Louis Cardinals. This despite a pitching matchup of southpaw Jeff Francis versus Adam Wainwright. This isn't 2007 for Francis. He's 0-3 with a 5.26 ERA this season. The Rockies have lost five of his six starts.
Wainwright, though, is proving to be the real deal since coverting to a starter from the bullpen. In his last 19 starts, going back to last season, he's allowed three or fewer runs in 17 of those outings. During the other two starts, he yielded four runs. The Cardinals are 24-14 the past two years when he's started.
St. Louis is 5-1 this season when Wainwright has started. The right-hander has a 2.60 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP. Colorado is 8-17 versus right-handers.
The Cardinals are 12-5 in their last 17 away contests. Their confidence is high. The Rockies are struggling. They really miss their injured star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. He's their version of Derek Jeter.
Free Pick: Cardinals +120