15* MLB Wednesday PLAY OF THE DAY on St. Louis Cardinals -122

Cincinnati vs. St. Louis, 04/18/2012 20:15 EDT, Score: 1 - 11

Money Line: -122 St. Louis

Sportsbook: Intertops

Result: Win

The St. Louis Cardinals have picked up right where they left off last season. St. Louis is 8-3 this season and on a mission to prove that they can still be a contender without Albert Pujols. I'll back them as a small home favorite here tonight against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cincinnati made the postseason two years ago, but they just haven't been the same team since. The Reds are off to a 4-7 start this season due to poor hitting. Cincinnati is batting .205 and scoring 2.9 runs/game, while St. Louis is hitting .293 and putting up 5.4 runs/game.

Cincinnati starter Mat Latos is 0-1 with a 5.58 ERA and 1.758 WHIP in two starts this season. Latos is 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA and 2.101 WHIP in three career starts against the Cardinals. He has given up 15 earned runs and 22 base runners over 5 1/3 innings in his two starts at St. Louis.

Jaime Garcia remains one of the most underrated starters in the game. Garcia is 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.313 WHIP in eight career starts against Cincinnati. He has given up just six earned runs over 24 2/3 innings in his four home starts against the Reds. The Cardinals are 4-0 in those four games, so they have never lost when Garcia starts at home vs. Cincinnati. Roll with the Cardinals Wednesday.