MLB picks: Cardinals vs. Brewers, Twins vs. White Sox

Central division teams will be in the spotlight as we make our Wednesday night MLB selections!

First, it’s an NL Central showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers. Then we’ll preview an AL Central clash between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox.

St. Louis Cardinals (22-14) at Milwaukee Brewers (19-17), 7:40 p.m. ET

Bettors should feel confident in Brandon Woodruff and the Brewers on Wednesday night as they host the division-rival Cardinals.

Woodruff is off to a flying start in May, scattering three earned runs over 12 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 17 batters while walking only three in that span. Woodruff has yet to face St. Louis this season, but in two starts against them in 2020, he pitched 15 innings and allowed only three earned runs while holding the Redbirds to a .173 batting average.

Countering for the Cardinals is John Gant, who issued six walks in just 4 1/3 innings against the New York Mets when last seen. Control has been an issue for him all season, as evidenced by his 1.70 WHIP.

In 9 2/3 relief innings against Milwaukee in 2019, Gant produced a 4.66 ERA. Look for Travis Shaw – who tallied two doubles in last night’s meeting between these clubs – to go off against Gant, whom he’s 5-for-12 (.417) against with a home run.

MLB pick: Brewers runline

---

Minnesota Twins (12-21) at Chicago White Sox (20-13), 8:10 p.m. ET

J.A. Happ (2-0, 1.91 ERA) has been one of the few overachievers on the Twins this season, but he could be in for some trouble against the White Sox on Wednesday night.

Happ will match up with a South Siders squad that’s tops in the majors in OPS against lefties in 2021 (.849). He’ll have to be especially careful with Tim Anderson, who’s 9-for-16 (.563) all-time against him with two homers.

Happ has also struggled with Jose Abreu – who homered last night – as he’s 5-for-16 against him lifetime. The Illinois native is unlikely to get much relief from a Minnesota bullpen that’s fifth-worst in the majors by ERA (5.85) over the last two weeks.

Dallas Keuchel counters for Chicago off his best outing of the year, as he blanked a potent Cincinnati Reds offense through seven innings on the road. He’s yet to face the Twins in 2021, but he authored a 1.74 ERA against them in two starts last season.

Behind Keuchel is a White Sox bullpen that’s pitched to a 1.99 ERA over the last two weeks, good for third in the majors.

MLB pick: White Sox -136