The Brewers and Cardinals have flipped positions in the past two weeks in the NL Central standings and the Cards are now on top. Wednesday the Brewers look to RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-1) to take on the rival Cardinals who send out RHP John Gant (2-3). I love this rivalry in the past few seasons and I think this one will go the Brewers way at home. Take Milwaukee to win.
Reality seemed to set in for the Brewers this month as they lost 6 games in 6 days. From May 1 to the 7th the Brewers went from having a two game lead and being in first place in the NL Central to trailing the Cardinals by 2 games in the standings. Why is this reality setting in? Because in spring training most experts had St. Louis winning the NL Central and Milwaukee coming in somewhere in the middle of the division and fighting for a postseason spot. The good news for the Brew Crew is they have since rebounded and are on a 2 game win streak but still trail the Cards by 2 in the standings. If you’re here for legal sports betting sites you’ll want to know the Cardinals have been headed in the direct opposite direction of the Brewers winning 9 of 11. Wednesday Cardinals manager Mike Shildt will send righty John Gant to the mound against Milwaukee. Gant has pitched 29 ⅓ innings in 2021 and he is 2-3 on the season with a 2.15 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Gant is 1-1 on the road this season with a 1.93 road ERA. Expect Gant to go about 6 innings for Shildt. The Cardinals bullpen has a 3.88 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP in ‘21. The Cardinals have been better than average this season at the plate and as a team they are in the MLB top 10 in 3 key categories, runs scored with 161, home runs with 44 and slugging % at .405. The Cardinals have spread the wealth at the bat, Dylan Carlson leads the team with a .303 average and in OBP at .380. Third baseman Tommy Edman has 41 hits, infielder Nolan Arenado, who is playing 3B and 2B for the Cards has 23 RBI and Paul DeJong leads the team with 7HR. For the Brewers, manager Craig Counsell sends out staff ace Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff, while only having 3 decisions at 2-1 on the season, has been outstanding. He is 5th among all MLB starting pitchers in both ERA at 1.73 and WHIP at 0.77 and has 51 K on the season, all good to know if you’re looking for MLB betting odds. Oddly, at home the 6’4” righty has no decisions and a 3.38 ERA. Woodruff has been eating innings for Milwaukee and expect him to go 7 or longer. When Counsell goes to the pen the Brewers bullpen is almost identical to St. Louis’ in 2 key stats, the Brewers pen has a 3.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. I expect to see the Brewers closer fireballer lefty Josh Hader (maybe my favorite relief pitcher in MLB). Hader has a 0.71 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP. The Brewers battery finds itself in the lower ⅓ of most important stats and most impressive for Milwaukee they have 41 home runs on the season. Center Fielder Avisial Garcia has been the most impressive Brewer hitter at the bat, he leads the Crew with a .273 BA, a .347 OBP and in hits with 30 on the season. Third baseman Travis Shaw’s 22 RBI and 5 HR lead the Brewers. Games between these clubs in recent years have been both chess matches and at times wars. This one will most likely be similar and I expect the Brewers to squeak out a home win with Woodruff and Hader bookending a win for Milwaukee. Take the Brewers to win.
