Saturday Picks

[Raji]

Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals (-155, 9)

The Red birds current vibe and focus is typical of LaRussa coached squad late in the year. As for the Braves, Grandpa Cox is not used to playing for nothing and it shows. While quality starts from a 30-year-old with only minimal relief experience in the past has been one of the lone bright spots for the Braves, Jorge Campillo has labored of late with a 7.50 ERA over his last three starts. On the Cardinals side, LaRussa has his crew stoking the ball with the confidence of a front-runner in late August. They exploded for 18 runs and 26 hits against an already taxed and undermanned Braves staff yesterday, and more importantly, have a fresh pen for the weekend after only using one reliever following an off day Thursday. Toeing the rubber this afternoon, while Kyle Lohse (13-6, 3.94) rarely baffles hitters, he usually keeps Pujols in striking distance and has allowed three runs or less in 14 of his last 18 starts. Cards take the second step on their way to a weekend sweep.

Pick: Cardinals

Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers (-245, 8 1/2)

The vibe for the Brew Crew at home has been Wrigley-esque with unprecedented sell-outs and late inning heroics. Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.62) takes the hill for Ned Yost, and while he is the definition of a backend starter, as seen yesterday (10 runs) the return of Ryan Braun in the middle of the line-up turns Suppan's supporters into a confident mash unit. Yankee cast-off Jeff Karstens was supposed to start for the Pirates but was pushed back, so instead the walk-machine Tom Gorzelanny (6-7, 6.57 with 61 walks in 87.2 innings) was recalled to take the mound at the spot of his last major league appearance (4.2 innings, 11 hits, eights runs). While he looked solid in Triple-A and greatly improved his control, the nerves should return with the playoff atmosphere in Milwaukee. The only road-block for the Brewers today will be trying handle the lethal bats of Xavier Nady and Jason Bay…oh wait, never mind.

Pick: Brewers

Raji