Desperation breeds motivation, and the St. Louis Cardinals should have plenty of both right now as they try to make up ground in the National League Wild Card race. The Cards entered this three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on the heels of three losses to the Cubs at Wrigley but showed good grit when they claimed the opener of this set 8-7 in extra innings on Tuesday.

Tonight Luke Weaver (6-1, 1.89 ERA) will take the ball for the Cards. The 24 year old right-hander has been excellent in his 10 appearances (seven starts) on the season and he is 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA through his last five starts. He struck out six while limiting the Reds to one run on two hits in six frames his last trip to the mound.

The Reds hand the ball to Rookie Davis (1-2, 7.71 ERA) who will make his seventh appearance (sixth start). The 24 year old right-hander surrendered two runs on four hits in two innings of relief pitching against the Cards on Sept. 12, and I think they'll put the pressure on him early tonight.

Note that Davis has compiled a 2.24 WHIP (admittedly over just 21 innings of work so not a huge sample), and the Cardinals are 9-2 in their last 11 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.

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