St. Louis Cardinals vs. Houston Astros
MLB Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals -174 odds (September 27th 2011)

The St. Louis Cardinals trail the Atlanta Braves by one game for the wild card spot in the National League. Obviously, this is a must-win situation for them and I like their chances with Jake Westbrook on the mound against the major league-worst Houston Astros (56-104). St. Louis was 10 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the wild card Aug. 24, but has won 21 of 30 since. Lance Berkman, who starred for the Astros from 1999-2010, is hitting .406 with five homers and 14 RBIs against Houston this season. All five home runs have been hit at Minute Maid Park. Westbrook is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts this year versus the Astros, and 8-4 with a 3.61 ERA on the road. He didn’t get a decision despite a solid outing at home in his most recent outing Thursday, giving up one run in six innings before the bullpen allowed six runs in the ninth during an 8-6 loss to New York.

Henry Sosa is 3-5 with a 4.68 ERA and 1.400 WHIP in nine starts this season. Sosa is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.867 WHIP over his last three starts as well. He has yielded seven home runs while issuing 21 walks in 50 innings this season. The Astros are 6-28 when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) this season. The Cardinals are 8-3 in Westbrook’s last 11 starts following a team loss in their previous game. The Astros are 33-70 in their last 103 overall. Bet the Cardinals Tuesday.

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Colorado Rockies vs. Houston Astros
MLB Pick: Houston Astros -113 odds (September 22nd 2011)

No team has packed it in quite like the Colorado Rockies to end the season. The Rockies are 0-7 in their last seven games, getting outscored 19-49 in the process. Their seven-game skid is the longest by Colorado since an eight-game losing streak at the end of last season. Colorado’s chances of losing eight straight are very high with Alex White on the mound. White (2-2, 8.46 ERA) will face Houston for the second time since being acquired in the July 31 trade deadline deal that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland. He gave up five runs in six innings to Houston on August 23rd. White has a 9.19 ERA in the month of September, and he’s given up eight homers in 15 2/3 innings. Henry Sosa is no stud for Houston, but he’s better than White with a 4.74 ERA in eight starts this season, and a 4.76 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in three home starts. He has only allowed 13 hits, four walks and one home run in 17 innings at home in 2011. The Rockies are 15-40 in their last 55 games as an underdog. Colorado is 8-25 in their last 33 meetings in Houston. The Astros are 9-5 in their last 14 home games, including 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record. Roll with Houston Thursday.

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