Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals, Betting Odds and Picks: May 20th 2009

Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals u8.5 (-110)-Wednesday, May 20, 2009 8:15 PM.
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The Chicago Cubs visit their long time rivals, the St.Louis Cardinals, this evening in a game that sets up well for staying below the number, as two quality starting pitchers go to the hill.

The Cardinals' ace and former Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter makes his return from an injury to the Cardinals’ rotation on Wednesday.

He threw 120 pitches in a bullpen session this past Friday, and looked very stable in his warm up, which gave the coaching staff enough confidence to start him tonight. Carpenter was outstanding in both of his starts, before he was sidelined by a left oblique strain. Carpenter is 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in five home starts versus the Cubs.

Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster (3-2, 4.65 ERA) has thrown six or more innings in each of his starts this year, and recorded four quality starts. In two outings versus the Cardinals this month, he has pitched well, allowing 11 hits in 12 innings, both games resulted in no decisions.

I expect more steady work from the Canuck righty.

These teams have a recent history of playing low scoring, tightly contested games, and nothing will change this evening.

Final Notes and Key Trends

These teams have gone under in 15 of 19 games in this series. Under is 10-3 in Carpenters last 13 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5. Under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings in St. Louis. Under is 5-0-1 in umpire Brian Gormans last six games behind home plate.  Play UNDER!