Within every club in Major League Baseball, there comes a sense of history that follows that organization around. Players often attach themselves to that very history and connect themselves to it. So, knowing that St. Louis and Detroit have played against one another on the biggest stage in the MLB — and more than just once — I think it is safe to say that both teams will take this series very seriously.
St. Louis will open up a three game series in Detroit on Friday, which will be the first meeting between these two ball clubs in the 2018 season.
St. Louis will be sending Austin Gomber to the mound against Detroit’s Daniel Norris. In the last 10 games Detroit is 4-6, while holding a 34-34 record at home. St. Louis is 41-31 on the road and has a 6-4 record in its last 10.
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— Angeles_NF (@Angeles_NF) September 11, 2018
Detroit’s Daniel Norris holds a 0-3 record with a 5.49 ERA. He holds a 5.49 ERA in his last 7 games, 4.50 ERA against the NL, 1.93 ERA at home, and a 5.59 ERA at night. His last seven games he has put in 19.2 innings of work. He gave up 12 runs on 17 hits while issuing 10 walks with 25 strikeouts in that time. He uses five pitches with an average fastball speed of 89.2 mph.
We are now 11-1 in our last 12 series! #HereComeTheCards
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— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 6, 2018
Cardinals’ Austin Gomber holds a 5-0 record with a 2.77 ERA. He holds a 2.38 ERA in his last seven games, 2.98 ERA against the AL, 3.30 ERA on the road, and 3.18 ERA at night. His last seven games he has put in 34 innings of work. He gave up nine runs on 34 hits while walking 14 and striking out 29 in that time. He uses four pitches with an average fastball speed of 92.6 mph.
DEFENSE. 👏👏 #STLCards pic.twitter.com/SZh1Mpuywb
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 6, 2018
Detroit has a team batting average of .244 with a bullpen holding a 4.51 ERA. They are currently scoring 3.93 runs per game. Detroit is 22nd in the league in runs scored at home and 25th overall this year.
St. Louis has a team batting average of .251 with a bullpen holding a 4.29 ERA. St. Louis is sixth in the league in runs scored per game on the road and 12th overall. The Cardinals are also ranked 13th in the league in team batting average, against the Tigers 21st position.
Detroit is 3-4 at home in interleague play, while St. Louis is 5-2 on the road in interleague play.
We're happy to have you back @BigCityForReal, for real! pic.twitter.com/uYejWHNxNw
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 7, 2018
With Detroit just getting back home after a disappointing nine game road trip in which they only won four games, it will be a welcome day of rest for the Tigers on Thursday with a scheduled off day.
St. Louis will have an off day as well though. St. Louis is on a road trip that just started and sent them to Washington against the Nationals in which the Cardinals won two of three games.
The Cardinals have an overall better road record than Detroit’s at home record, while the offense seems to be in favor of St. Louis. Given that — plus the starting pitching is lopsided in favor of St. Louis — I will have to recommend taking the St. Louis Cardinals ML. Oddsmakers currently have them at -155 odds. This line is likely to shift a bit more in favor of the Cardinals, so get it before that happens.
The Jolly Life Recommends: St. Louis Cardinals ML (-155 odds)
