It’s the final week of the 1st half of the regular season in Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals have played 81 games (50%) and sit with a 39-42 record, which is third place in the National League Central. The Cardinals start the new week just 3.5 games behind first place Milwaukee, and 1.5 back of the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals have the 8th best record in the National League. Let’s take a look at the full week of games from Monday July 3 – Sunday July 9:
Monday July 3, 2017 – 6:15pm CT w/ Miami Marlins
Adam Wainwright (8-5, 5.17) vs. Jeff Locke (0-4, 5.52)
Notes: Wainwright has made two solid starts in a row after his disaster in Baltimore
Wainwright leads the Cardinals starting pitchers in wins
Wainwright fares well against Miami, as they are batting just .216 with 1HR in 74 career at bats
Locke has yet to win in 6 starts this season.
Locke has thrown 29.1 innings, and allowed 31 hits.
The Cardinals are .336 career against Locke
Jedd Gyorko is 5-11, 2HR off Locke.
Tuesday July 4, 2017 – 1:15pm CT w/ Miami Marlins
Lance Lynn (6-5, 3.90) vs. Jose Urena (6-3, 3.42)
Notes: Lynn is coming off a win on the road at Arizona.
Lynn has allowed just 69 hits in 90 innings this season.
The Marlins are career .205 in 88 at bats against Lynn.
GIancarlo Stanton is 4-14 with 1HR against Lynn.
Urena has pitched 6 innings in each of his last 4 starts.
Urena has not pitched into the 7th inning all season.
The Cardinals are 9-24 career against Urena.
Wednesday July 5, 2017 – 7:15pm CT w/ Miami Marlins
Mike Leake (6-6, 2.97) vs. Edinson Volquez (4-8, 3.97)
Notes: Leake is coming off an 8IP, 5H outing on Friday against Washington.
Leake is 5th in the National League in ERA.
Miami is 23 of 105 for a .219 with 3 HR lifetime against Leake.
Volquez has won 4 out of his last 5 decision after starting 0-7.
Volquez threw the only no hitter in MLB this season.
The Cardinals are a career .306 in 110 at bats against Volquez.
Thursday July 6, 2017 – 12:45pm CT w/ Miami Marlins
Michael Wacha (5-3, 4.16) vs. Tom Koehler (1-3, 7.43)
Notes: Wacha has won his last two starts.
Wacha has not list since May 30th.
Miami is 9 of 40 for a career .225 against Wacha.
Martin Prado is 4 for 11, HR against Wacha.
Koehler last just 1.2 innings in his last start in Milwaukee
Koehler went 5.1 innings against the Cardinals on May 10th.
Koehler has fared well overall against the Cardinals, as they are just .230 lifetime.
Friday July 7, 2017 – 7:15pm CT w/ New York Mets
Carlos Martinez (6-7, 3.15) vs. Zack Wheeler (3-5, 5.01)
Notes: Martinez is coming off a loss to the Nationals on Sunday.
Martinez has 124 strikeouts in 111.1 innings.
The Mets are a career .220 against Martinez.
Wheeler is the projected Mets start barring any changes.
Wheeler has allowed 75 hits in 70 innings.
Saturday July 8, 2017 – 3:10pm CT w/ New York Mets
Adam Wainwright (8-5, 5.17) vs. Rafael Montero (1-5, 5.63)
Notes: Wainwright is looking to become the first St. Louis Cardinals pitcher to 10 wins with 2 starts this week.
The Mets projected pitcher is Montero, barring any changes.
Montero has made just 4 starts this season.
Montero is coming off a loss to Philadelphia, where he allowed 4 runs in 6.1 innings.
Sunday July 9, 2017 – 1:15pm CT w/ New York Mets
Lance Lynn (6-5, 3.90) vs. Steven Matz (2-1, 2.67)
Notes: Lance Lynn is a free agent at the end of this season, sparking trade talk.
Lynn is seeking his 5th season of 10+ wins in a season.
Matz is the projected starter in this game, barring any changes in rotation.
Matz has thrown 27 innings, and allowed 22 hits, and just 8 earned runs.
