MLB Picks: Nationals vs. Cardinals Game 2 08.10.2012

Washington's bench and bullpen proved the difference in Game 1 of the NLDS vs. St. Louis.  The Cardinals and Nationals get right back to business in Game 2 on Monday afternoon. Read our preview and MLB picks play on this game.

Nationals at Cardinals

Monday, Oct. 8 -- 4:37 PM (ET) TBS

Busch Stadium, St. Louis 

On an afternoon that big-name sluggers with multimillion dollar contracts couldn't get the hit to break open a tight, low-scoring Game 1 between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals, it was an unlikely rookie earning the league minimum who came off the bench to deliver the game's deciding blow. 

Washington's Tyler Moore proved the hero with a 2-run single in the eighth on Sunday to give the Nats a 3-2 victory over the Cards.  Each team missed opportunity after opportunity up to that point to score runs and take charge of the contest early.  But neither could break through with both the Nationals and Redbirds leaving 10 runners on. 

St. Louis will now try to level the series Monday before the teams head to the nation's capital for the remainder of the series resumes on Wednesday. TBS will carry the late-afternoon affair that features Jordan Zimmermann on the hill for the visiting Nationals opposite Jaime Garcia. A quick glance at MLB odds finds the Cardinals opening as -110 to -115 favorites and 7.5 for the total (U -120). 

Moore was drafted three different times by the Nationals before he finally signed in 2008, and made his MLB debut this year one day after the super-hyped Bryce Harper played his initial big league game.  In a lineup that also features names like Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Michael Morse, Moore's fine rookie season is easily lost in the spotlights (10 HR, .263 AVG). 

But the youngster out of Mississippi State will now have his name forever etched in Nationals history after his looping liner delivered the winning runs in the eighth inning.  Washington left the bases loaded twice before in the second and sixth innings, and St. Louis missed a huge chance in the bottom of the seventh to add to a 2-1 lead when the Cardinals were unable to score after filling the sacks with no outs. 

Mixed Histories Against Opposition For Both Zimmermann, Garcia

From the SBR Department of Somewhat Amazing Stats, the Nats have somehow managed to win two of Zimmermann's six career starts vs. Cincinnati despite his unsightly 9.60 ERA.  Likewise, St. Louis is 2-3 in Garcia's five lifetime assignments against Washington though he's carrying a 5.00 ERA in those outings. 

Zimmermann has just one quality effort among his six tries against St. Louis, and it happened to come in his final start of the 2012 season.  The righty worked into the seventh and surrendered three runs, by far his best showing vs. the Redbirds.  It's difficult to find a hitter in the St. Louislineup that hasn't had some success when facing Zimmermann. 

Washington beat up Garcia when the Nationals saw him in late-August, plating six and cracking a couple of homers in his 5.1 innings.  The long balls were by Werth (career .333 hitter vs. Garcia) and Harper who was seeing the southpaw for the first time. 

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SIDE

MONEY LINE

TOTAL

SCORE

WASHINGTON

ST. LOUIS

• +1½ -210
• +100
• o7½ +114

• -1½ +190
• -110
• u7½ -124

• +1½ -215
• +100
• o7½ +105

• -1½ +185
• -110
• u7½ -125

• +1½ -230
• -110
• o7½ +110

• -1½ +190
• -110
• u7½ -130

• +1½ -210
• +103
• o7½ +112

• -1½ +188
• -109
• u7½ -124

-

-

The Ump, The Weather & My Pick 

Marvin Hudson is slated to be under the mask and calling the pitches for this one.  Hudson was about as streaky as they come in terms of totals this season, ending 16-17 O/U, ending on a 4-game OVER run which was preceded by three UNDERS.  One of those late OVERS was a start by Zimmermann (Sept. 24), and he was 3-1 O/U in games involving either the Nats or Cards.

Another crisp, sunny fall afternoon is on tap for Archway City.  The thermometer should just barely make it to 60ºF by the time Garcia delivers the first pitch a little past 3:30 local time.  Sunday's win gave the Nats a 31-23 mark in day games this year while the Cardinals are now 34-25.

The lineups failed to come through for our OVER wager in Sunday's game, but I'm going to climb right back on that horse with my play in Game 2. Put the OVER on your ticket for one of tonight's baseball picks.

My Baseball pick: Over 7.5 (+100)  +++