RED-HOT (8-0 LAST 8) BIG AL's MLB ELITE INFO

At 6:05 pm, our selection is on the St. Louis Cardinals over the Philadelphia Phillies.  As many expected, the NL Central is a two-team race between the Cards and Brewers and it likely will continue to be so for the rest of the season.  Both teams have thrived on their pitching (as well as hitting) this season.  And no pitcher epitomizes the term "workhorse" any more than St. Louis righthander Miles Mikolas.  Signing a 31-year-old Mikolas to a 4 year, $68M extension in 2020 may have seemed liked a risky move at the time, but it's looking pretty smart right now.  Mikolas is in the top three for innings pitched in the NL this season -- he should go over 100 tonight -- and he just keeps giving his team quality start after quality start every time he goes out there.  After a 4.23 ERA in an abbreviated 2021, Mikolas has come storming back this season with a 2.57 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 15 starts.  Mikolas last pitched against the Phillies in May of 2019 when he threw seven shutout innings in a 6-0 Cards win.  St. Louis is also a dominant 11-1 (+10 games on the moneyline) in its last 12 games as a road favorite.  Take the Cards.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.