Baseball Picks – Carpenter, Oswalt highlight Wednesday MLB matchups

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Administrator Wednesday, 22 July 2009 15:43

Making baseball picks could be a handful in Houston on Wednesday, when the Astros host division-leading St. Louis in the finale of a three-game series between these National League Central rivals. The best should be saved for last, as a pair of veteran aces will take the hill.

Cardinals Astros odds – Wednesday, July 22, 8:05 PM ET

34-year-old Chris Carpenter (8-3, 2.26) pitched eight scoreless innings in a 6-1 win over Arizona for his third straight victory, and he’s looking to cap a spectacular July as he’s 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA so far this month. Carpenter is 5-3 in 11 starts against the Astros, including four complete games, and he’s posted a very solid 2.93 ERA against them. Being on the road doesn’t bother him, as Carpenter is 4-2 in nine starts away from home with a 2.50 ERA.

31-year-old Roy Oswalt (6-4, 3.65) tossed his NL-leading third complete game in an 8-1 rout in Los Angeles, allowing just four hits while striking out five. One of his worst losses of the season came at St. Louis in his second 2009 start, when Oswalt was tagged for six runs on nine hits in six innings of an 11-2 loss. This dropped his record against the Cardinals to 9-7 in 26 games (25 starts), and raised his ERA to 3.11.

MLB lines should favor the Astros at home, and when you’re making baseball picks, don’t forget the posted total. With Oswalt and Carpenter on the mound, the under is looking like a pretty solid bet. All it will take is one mistake by either pitcher. Oswalt gets the nod at home.

Baseball picks: Houston Astros