THE SPORTS ADVISORS
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Houston (30-23) at St. Louis (30-23)
The Astros will send left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 2.31 ERA) to the mound at Busch Stadium, while the Cardinals will counter with right-hander Adam Wainwright (4-2, 3.06) in the second game of a three-game set between these National League Central rivals.
Houston rolled to an 8-2 victory in Tuesday?s series opener, improving to 17-7 in its last 24 overall, including 5-2 in the last seven. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have followed up a 6-1 tear by dropping their last two, and they need to win the next two contests against the Astros to extend a streak that has seen St. Louis win three consecutive three-game series.
This is the third series this season between these two teams, and the Cardinals now hold a 4-3 edge after last night?s loss, splitting four contests at Busch Stadium. St. Louis is 4-0 all-time with Wainwright going against the Astros.
Rodriguez, who has three no-decisions among his four starts, is returning to the Astros? rotation after missing more than a month with a strained left groin. In his last outing, he allowed two runs on five hits in four innings, getting a no-decision in a 3-2 home loss to Colorado on April 19. Prior to that, he got the win in a 5-1 victory over Florida, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings on April 13.
Rodriguez was solid in an April 7 home start against St. Louis, throwing 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball, yielding just three hits and leaving with a 2-0 lead. But the bullpen gave up three runs in the ninth as the Cardinals rallied for a 3-2 victory. Rodriguez is 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against St. Louis. Also, in his lone road start this year, he gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings in a 9-6 loss at San Diego on April 2.
Wainwright allowed one run on five hits in seven innings Friday en route to a 2-1 road victory over the Dodgers. That ended Wainwright?s four-week drought without a win, as he went 0-1 with three no-decisions in his previous five outings. But St. Louis is 7-3 this season behind Wainwright, who is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in five home starts, all Cardinals victories.
On April 26 against Houston, Wainwright threw a five-hit complete game, allowing three runs as St. Louis earned a 4-3 home win. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in 10 appearances (four career starts) against the Astros.
The Astros are on hot streaks of 6-1 versus the N.L. Central, 5-1 on Wednesdays, 11-3 against winning teams, 8-3 on the highway, 6-1 overall when Rodriguez starts, 6-0 when Rodriguez faces division rivals and 4-1 when Rodriguez works on the highway.
The Cardinals have now dropped five of their last six in N.L. Central play, but otherwise the trends are all positive, including 8-2 on Wednesday, 10-4 at home against winning teams and 13-6 against lefties. In addition, behind Wainwright, St. Louis has won six in a row at Busch, six in a row against winning teams and five of six against N.L. Central foes.
The under for Houston is 4-1 in Rodriguez?s last five starts, but the over is 10-1-1 in his last 12 road outings against winning teams and is 8-2-1 in his last 11 road starts overall. With Wainwright going, the over for St. Louis is 5-2-2 in division play, but the under is 11-4-1 with him going on four days? rest and 9-4-2 in his last 15 starts against winning teams.
Furthermore, for Houston, the under is on streaks of 7-3 overall, 8-3 in division games, 11-6-1 on the highway and 35-18-2 against winning teams. For the Cardinals, the under runs include 4-2 overall, 5-2-1 against winning teams and 5-2 vs. left-handed starters. Finally, even though last night?s contest jumped over the total, the under is still 6-2 in the last eight head-to-head meetings overall and 4-1 in the last five clashes at Busch Stadium.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ST. LOUIS and UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto (28-26) at Oakland (29-23)
Right-hander Roy Halladay (5-5, 3.11 ERA) will toe the slab for the Blue Jays in the second game of a three-game series against the Athletics, who are set to counter with righty Rich Harden (3-0, 2.93) at McAfee Coliseum.
The A?s extended their winning streak to five in a row while at the same time snapping Toronto?s five-game hot streak with Tuesday?s 3-1 victory. Oakland?s five-game streak comes on the heels of a 2-9 slump, and the A?s are now 14-5 in their last 19 home games.
Despite Tuesday?s setback the Blue Jays are still on an 11-4 tear, holding their last five opponents to three runs or fewer. In fact, Toronto has given up more than three runs only twice in the 11 victories during this 15-game stretch.
The A?s have owned this American League rivalry lately, winning the last five clashes, including a three-game sweep last month in Canada. Going back to last year, Oakland is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings. However, the road team is still 11-3 in the last 14 head-to-head contests. In addition, the Jays are 2-5 in Halladay?s last seven starts in Oakland, and the A?s are 1-4 with Harden going against Toronto.
The Blue Jays have notched wins in three of Halladay?s last four starts, with the veteran ace hurling a complete-game gem Friday against Kansas City. Halladay yielded one run on four hits, with no walks and five strikeouts, as Toronto rolled 7-1 at home in Halladay?s third complete game of the year (2-1). The right-hander, preparing for his 11th start of the season, is 2-4 with a 3.40 ERA in six road starts (seven appearances) this season.
Halladay is 4-4 with a 5.35 ERA in 11 career starts against Oakland. In his lone outing against the A?s last season, he tossed nine innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and six walks, getting a no-decision as Oakland prevailed 5-4 at home in 11 innings.
Harden, who had a stint on the 15-day DL with a strained right shoulder following his first two starts of the season, has been lights out in his last two outings, giving up a total of three runs on eight hits and four walks with 16 strikeouts in 13 innings, beating Atlanta 5-4 and Boston 8-3. The A?s are 3-0 in Harden?s three starts since returning from the DL.
Harden is 2-0 with an exceptional 1.59 ERA in three home starts this season, but he?s 0-3 with a 5.59 ERA in five career starts against Toronto.
The Blue Jays remain on streaks of 6-2 on the highway, 7-4 against winning teams and 64-30 in Halladay?s last 94 starts overall. However, Toronto is 4-12 in Halladay?s last 16 road starts, 2-5 in the team?s last seven on Wednesday and 1-4 in the team?s last five versus the American League West.
The Athletics, who have won five in a row against the A.L. East after sweeping the Red Sox in Oakland last weekend, have been money when the oft-injured Harden has made it to the mound, posting runs of 38-15 overall, 24-8 at home and 4-1 against the A.L. East.
The under is 6-2 in Halladay?s last eight starts overall, 5-1 in his last six on the highway, 4-1 in his last five against the A.L. West and 5-0-1 in his last six in Oakland. Meanwhile, the under is 5-1 in Harden?s last six home starts against winning teams and 5-2 in his last seven on Wednesdays.
For Toronto, the under is 34-16-3 overall this season (6-2 last eight), including 19-8-1 on the road, and the under is 5-0 in its last four against the A.L. West. The under is also 6-2-1 in Oakland?s last nine on Wednesday. Conversely, in this rivalry, the over is 6-3-1 in the last 10 clashes overall and 6-2-1 in the last eight battles at the Coliseum, though Tuesday?s contest stayed well below the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OAKLAND