Alright, buckle up boys and girls, it's time to dissect this upcoming baseball brawl. So, we've got the Seattle Mariners squaring off with the St. Louis Cardinals. Fun fact for you, they're doing this dance at the Busch Stadium. It's a place that makes pitchers wish they chose a career in pottery instead of baseball. Usually not the heaven on earth for batters though, so keep that in mind, folks.
Talk about expectations, the Mariners are unleashing Luis Castillo onto the mound. He has been lobbing the balls with a decent ERA of 3.65, seems to have control of his game with a WHIP of 1.16, and does have the knack for stirring up a strikeout storm with a 9.1 K/9. On the other side, the Cardinals' hopes are hinging on Miles Mikolas. To be fair, he's struggling a bit with a 5.41 ERA and a WHIP of 1.30 this season, and let's face it, his K/9 of 6.4 isn't going to send shivers down any batter's spine.
Riding with the Mariners, we've got some of their finest in Luke Raley, Victor Robles, and Cal Raleigh. While their batting averages might not be the stuff of legends, they're no slouches on the field. As for the dubiously feathered Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt, Lars Nootbaar, Pedro Pages and Nolan Arenado have been the talk of the town. Let's give credit where it's due; Goldschmidt's 0.313 batting average this past season has been quite a sight.
As for past matchups, things have been pretty balanced. I mean, sure, the Mariners did school the Cardinals the last time they played but don't forget the Cardinals took the first game of that double-header. But hey, who am I to state the obvious here? And to add a dollop of vagueness to the mix, their regular season records are nearly identical.
Overall, it seems that the fighting Seattle fish have a bit more momentum. Their recent conquests, especially the 6-1 drubbing against the Cardinals followed by big wins over Oakland, suggest they've found their groove. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have had a bit of a mixed bag in their recent outings.
So, pop some popcorn, grab a beer, and brace yourself for the action. Taking all this wonderfully gushed knowledge into account, here you have it:
Albert’s Prediction: Seattle Mariners by 3