Joel Pineiro has pitched mich better than his record this year, as the Cardinals have scored three runs or less his last 11 starts. They should exceed that vs. Liriano today though.
The St. Louis Cardinals send Joel Pineiro to the mound today vs. the Minnesota Twins, and if he can receive just a little run support, than this game should cash easily.
I backed Pineiro in his last start on Tuesday night and was justly rewarded when he twirled a career best, complete game two-hitter as St. Louis blanked the New York Mets 3-0. He’s 1-2 but has a 1.61 ERA over his last three starts. His WHIP over that stretch is 0.76.
Francisco Liriano, the one-time phenom, has never recovered from arm problems that plagued him after his breakout season of 2006. He pitched briefly in ’07 but missed all of last season and has been a mere shadow of his former pitching self this season.
Liriano is 3-8 with an ERA of 5.88. He’s 2-1 over his past three starts despite an ERA of 5.00 and a WHIP of 1.57. Granted the Cards are hitting just .200 vs. lefties over the past ten games but the addition of Mark De Rosa should help. The veteran infielder was acquired by the Cards on Saturday night and his 13 homeruns and 50 RBI will be plugged in immediately.
I’m riding with Pineiro for the second time this week and hope that anyone not named Pujols will help Prince Albert at the plate. Pineiro has gotten three runs or fewer to work with in each of his last 11 starts and that probably won’t get it done with a powerful offensive team like the Twins.
Free Pick: Cardinals -126