Cardinals Try to Find Offense as They Host Phillies

Cardinals Offense Has Been Hit or Miss

The St. Louis Cardinals will host the Philadelphia Phillies Friday night at New Busch Stadium. Both teams have been having solid seasons at this point.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (3-1, 2.59 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.09)

Oddsmakers opened the Cardinals as -125-moneyline favorites versus the Phillies, while the game's total opened at 8. The line is now St. Louis -115 on the moneyline and the total is now 8 Under -130.

Cardinals Looking for Consistency After Latest Bad Streak

The Cardinals have dropped three straight home games for the first time this season. They have lost six of their last nine. St. Louis' bullpen faltered late in the series opener. They five runs in the eighth and ninth innings. This is not common as they have given up only 19 runs all season in entering the game.

Arrieta is winless in his last three outings. The bullpen is to blame for the past two. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner has allowed one run in 13 1/3 innings across his last two starts. He has five quality starts in seven outings this season.

Arrieta is 8-4 with a 2.27 ERA in 17 starts against the Cardinals. He's just 2-3 with a 4.21 ERA in seven outings at Busch Stadium.

Phillies Have NL Central's Number

The Philadelphia Phillies have the National League Central's number so far this season. The Phillies are 8-0 against the division and have outscored the teams 40-16.

The Phillies have won three straight and seven of their last eight after a 6-2 win in Thursday's series opener. Carlos Santana stayed red-hot while hitting his fifth home run in his past eight games. Odubel Herrera recorded his sixth multi-hit game in the past nine contests.

Wacha has allowed two runs or fewer in five straight starts. He hasn't lost since his season debut against the New York Mets on March 31. Wacha hasn't factored in the decision in his last three outings. This despite allowing only four earned runs over 16 1/3 innings. Wacha is 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in five starts against the Phillies.

Odubel Herrera has reached base in 43 consecutive games dating to last season. This is 13 shy of Mike Schmidt's club record. He is 15-for-34 during an eight-game hitting streak against the Cardinals.

The Phillies have homered in 12 straight games. That is tied for the longest active streak in the majors. They have drawn at least one walk in 56 consecutive games dating to last season.

Cardinals and Phillies Trends

Team	Type	Trend	Hit%	O/U	Push.	W/L
Philadelphia	Away	Under is 9-1 in Phillies last 10 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200.	90.00% (10)	1|9	0	|
St. Louis	Home	Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.	87.50% (8)	|	0	7|1
Philadelphia	Away	Phillies are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a favorite of -151 to -200.	87.50% (8)	|	0	90|38
St. Louis	Home	Under is 6-1-1 in Cardinals last 8 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.	85.70% (8)	1|6	1	|
St. Louis	Home	Under is 6-1 in Cardinals last 7 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.	85.70% (7)	1|6	0	|
Philadelphia	Away	Over is 5-1-1 in Arrietas last 7 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.	83.30% (7)	35|16	1	|
St. Louis	Home	Under is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.	83.30% (6)	1|5	0	|
St. Louis	Home	Over is 4-1 in Wachas last 5 starts with the total set at 6.5 or lower.	80.00% (5)	4|1	0	|

Powered by ScoresAndStats

Next up:
Philadelphia at St. Louis Saturday, May 19

Get a  100% Bonus up to $1,000 at the Worlds Oldest Online Sportsbook, Intertops!!!