This is an 8* play on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Everyone loves the Cubs this year, but I think people are overlooking the Cardinals. This was the best team in baseball for the first half of last season, and they likely would have won even more games if Adam Wainwright didn't miss most of the season.

Wainwright is back for 2016, and he's shown some positive signs in Spring Training. The righthander was 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA, but he struck out 11 batters in 15 innings over four appearances. He's 3-2 with a 2.73 ERA in his last eight starts against Pittsburgh, and the Cardinals have won seven of his last nine starts versus Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will counter with Francisco Liriano, who hasn't been sharp this Spring. The lefty was 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in four appearances. He's notorious for his slow starts, and last year the Pirates lost eight of his first 10 starts of the season.

The Cards have no problem hitting lefties, and they've won 19 of their last 26 versus southpaws, and seven of their last nine road games versus lefties.

Take STL.

GL,

Jesse Schule