MLB / Nick Shiambouros / 18 September 2009 / Leave a comment

With just over two weeks left in the regular season things are really heating up in the hunt for October. In the NL there are 10 teams with a chance of making the play-offs. Nick Shiambouros knows where he's putting his money this weekend...

Recommended wagers:
Sunday 9pm - Back Colorado
Sunday 1am - Back St Louis

The Colorado Rockies have a chance of making the post-season and they have had a sensational second half of the season. The Rockies are five games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and are still very much in contention to win the division. The beauty of watching baseball in September is that every game of importance has a play-off feel about it.

On Sunday Colorado travel to Arizona for a crucial NL West encounter. The Diamondbacks start the inexperienced Billy Buckner with a record of 2-6 and an ERA of 6.79. This young man is really pitching for his place in the team next season as Arizona are out of contention for the play-offs. Buckner has ability but I think the Colorado batters will try to get to him early in this one. This is a must win game for the Rockies and I expect them to swing the bat from the start. Todd Helton is on fire with the bat for Colorado averaging .318 for the season.

I make the Rockies the best bet of the weekend and I will back them accordingly.

The Chicago Cubs are another team with play-off aspirations and travel to St Louis on Sunday in a NL Central clash. The Cardinals are 10 games ahead of the Cubs but they are very much alive in the wildcard race. The Cubs have not impressed me all season and have lost several games they should have won. If they make the playoffs I can see them being eliminated in the first round.

The Cardinals start Adam Wainwright who has had a fantastic season and has a record of 18-8 and a very low ERA of just 2.59. Wainwright is a quality pitcher and has spanked the Cubs 3-0 this season. He is a pitcher who can go deep into a game which is why he will be tough on Sunday.

The Cubs have Carlos Zambrano on the hill, an excellent pitcher with a record of 8-6. He will have to bring his very best against a very talented Cardinal team which features the great Albert Pujols - simply the best player in baseball.

This game matters much more to Chicago than St Louis but my money will be on the Cardinals in this one. This is the feature Sunday night game on ESPN and I am sure it will be a fierce contest. The Cardinals are a better ball club than Chicago in almost every department and with Wainwright pitching they will be very difficult to overcome.

Both games are scheduled to be shown live on ESPN America which is now on Sky (430).

Tags: Arizona, Baseball betting, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, MLB Betting odds, St Louis Cardinals