MLB Opening Night 2012: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Miami Marlins Betting Preview

The 2012 MLB season already started over in Japan with the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners playing a two-game series, but it will still be a great atmosphere inside Marlins Park when the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Marlins as minus-175 home favorites in hosting the defending World Series champions (plus-155), while the total stands at 7.

St. Louis begins life without star first baseman Albert Pujols, who signed a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels during the offseason.

The Cardinals will also have a new skipper in the dugout, with Mike Matheny taking over the clubhouse due to the retirement of Tony La Russa.

Kyle Lohse is set to make his second career Opening Day start, as he comes off a solid spring, posting a 3-1 record and 2.81 ERA in a team-high six starts.

The right-hander led the team with 14 wins a year ago and posted a career-low 3.39 ERA in 30 starts.

Bettors may elect to play the Cardinals due to winning five of their last six games as a road underdog of plus-151 to plus-200.

Miami will say good riddance to playing inside Sun Life Stadium for its first 19 years of existence, moving into a brand new $515 million facility.

The Marlins definitely hope the new surroundings lead to a better result in this particular series, considering they dropped all four meetings against the Cardinals at home a year ago.  

Josh Johnson was spectacular through nine starts a year ago until right shoulder issues ended things, posting a 3-1 record and 1.64 ERA.

He will be making his third career Opening Day start, and looks to even up his record against tonight's opponent. The 28-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five career starts versus the Cardinals.

Most of the early betting action is landing on the Marlins due to the perceived advantage in the starting pitching matchup, and also with the added excitement of opening up a new ball park.

I'm going to sit this one out, but wouldn't be surprised if the two teams go "over" the smallish total.