PDS Sports Blog

The Florida Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Chase Field.

The Marlins will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Ricky Nolasco in this game. Nolasco has a 8-6 record and a 4.69 ERA this season.

Starting this game for the Diamondbacks will be ace Dan Haren. The righthander has a 4.38 ERA to go along with a 7-6 record this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Diamondbacks listed as 135-moneyline favorites versus the Marlins, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Kelly Johnson had four hits and drove in three runs to pace the Diamondbacks in a 10-4 win over the Marlins on Thursday. The Diamondbacks won that game as +100 underdogs, while the 14 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (10) set by sportsbooks. Rodrigo Lopez scattered five hits and four runs over seven innings for the win.

Brett Hayes belted a two-run homer for the Marlins, and Anibal Sanchez gave up nine hits and six runs over four innings in the loss.

One of my sports picks for today is that Florida will win.

Team records:
Florida: 40-45 SU
Arizona: 33-53 SU

Florida most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Arizona are 5-5
After playing Arizona are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5

Arizona most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Florida are 6-4
After playing Florida are 6-4
After a win are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
Florida is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Arizona
Florida is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Arizona
Arizona is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Florida
Arizona is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Florida
Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home

Stats and article courtesy of Chalk

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros will meet on the field at Minute Maid Park on Friday in a battle of division rivals.

Adam Wainwright will be the starting pitcher for the Cardinals on this day. Righthander Wainwright is 12-5 this season with a 2.24 ERA.

Wainwright’s opponent in this one will be Bud Norris. The Astros righthander has a 5.98 ERA to go along with a 2-5 record this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Cardinals listed as 210-moneyline favorites versus the Astros, while the game’s total is sitting at 7½.

The Cardinals were doubled 4-2 by the Rockies last time out, as +118 underdogs. That game’s six runs went UNDER the posted over/under (7.5) set by sportsbooks.

Chris Carpenter allowed nine hits and four runs over six innings in the Cardinals loss.

Roy Oswalt tossed a one-hit complete-game shutout on Thursday, as the Astros defeated the Pirates 2-0. The Astros won that game as -170 favorites, while the teams played UNDER the posted over/under (7) set by sportsbooks. Lance Berkman belted two home runs to lead the Astros, while Oswalt improved to 6-10 overall.

My handicapping software predicts that the St. Louis Cardinals will win.

Current streak:
St. Louis has lost 3 straight games.
Houston has won 3 straight games.

Team records:
St. Louis: 45-40 SU
Houston: 35-51 SU

St. Louis most recently:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Houston are 6-4
After playing Colorado are 1-9
After a loss are 6-4

Houston most recently:
When playing on Friday are 8-2
Before playing St. Louis are 3-7
After playing Pittsburgh are 7-3
After a win are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of St. Louis’s last 16 games when playing Houston
St. Louis is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Houston
St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Houston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston’s last 16 games when playing St. Louis

Stats and article courtesy of Chalk