Bet On MLB – National League Central Rivals Clash In The Windy City

Kentucky Derby betting players don’t get much in the way of rivals, but there is always a rivalry of some sort going on in baseball, and two of the most bitter rivals over the years have been St. Louis and Chicago in the National League Central. The Cubs have the bigger market, but the Cardinals have more success and after a slow start, they seem to be coming around. The two kick off a three-game set a Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.

Cardinals Cubs Betting – Tuesday, 8:05 PM ET

Chris Carpenter (0-2, 4.19) is still searching for his first win of the 2011 campaign after an 8-7 loss at home against Florida, as he allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits over six innings, striking out four and walking three. The Cardinals have now lost six of Carpenter’s seven starts, and if you bet on MLB odds, you know St. Louis isn’t going to last long if this continues, especially with Adam Wainwright on the disabled list for the next year. Carpenter is 10-6 in 22 starts against the Cubs, posting a 3.10 ERA, and the 36-year-old righty is 7-3 at Wrigley Field with a 3.72 ERA in 13 starts.

The Cubs will send out Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 4.23), who tossed a gem in a 5-1 win in Los Angeles, and he scattered a run on five hits over eight innings, striking out four and walking one. Everyone in baseball knows that when Zambrano has his head in the game, he’s one of the top 15-20 pitchers in the majors, but often he lets his temper get the best of him, and the Cubs need him in the rotation as Matt Garza gets used to the National League, Ryan Dempster slumps and the rest of the rotation is up in the air. The 29-year-old righthander is 12-6 in 29 games against the Cardinals with a 3.42 ERA, and he’s still looking for his first win at Wrigley this year, posting a 0-1 mark in three starts with a 4.26 ERA.

If you’re a fan of WWE Monday Night Raw, you should check this matchup out as both pitchers have never been afraid to brush a hitter back, and neither are afraid to get into a confrontation. The Cubs head into this series training the first-place Cardinals by four games, and they’re also looking to get closer to .500 at home, where they are 7-10, while the Cardinals are 10-6 on the road and have won six of their last 10 at Wrigley Field. You get the feeling that Carpenter is going to break out at any moment, and the Cardinals would love to see it sooner than later, while it’s fair to still be skeptical of Zambrano. Go with St. Louis in Tuesday’s sports bet.