The St. Louis Cardinals have won four on the bounce and six of they're last seven. They've won five straight meetings with the Padres at Petco Park, and I think the Cards will come through with another victory Thursday night.

Lance Lynn (10-6, 2.99 ERA) will take the ball for St. Louis. He's 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in six career starts against the Friars and was phenomenal his last time out when he held the Dodgers scoreless through eight innings of work.

The Padres turn to Clayton Richard (6-13, 4.94 ERA). The left-hander is 3-1 with a 4.39 ERA in 13 career games (nine starts) against the Cardinals. He went six innings against the Dodgers last week, allowing eight hits, three walks and three runs. Richard has been tagged with a total of 12 runs in 18 2/3 runs in his last three starts combined.

The Cardinals are 6-2 in their last eight games vs. a left-handed starter. The Padres are 2-6 in their last eight games vs. a right-handed starter.

My selection is an 8* play on St. Louis Cardinals.