Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals Game 2 - 9/25/20 MLB Pick and Prediction

For the Friday game two start, the Cardinals will send out Daniel Ponce de Leon. In eight games and seven starts this season, Ponce de Leon is 0-3 with a 5.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work. Over his MLB career, Ponce de Leon is 1-7 with a 3.90 ERA and 122 Ks in 108.1 innings total.
Over on the Brewers’ side, Thursday starter Corbin Burnes fizzled with 3.2 innings, six hits and three earned with two walks and five strikeouts in the defeat. Keston Hiura was the only Milwaukee hitter with multiple knocks, going 2-for-4 on the night. 

In the game two start on Friday, the Brewers will be going with Josh Lindblom. In 11 games (nine starts) this year, Lindblom is 2-3 with a 4.81 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 43.0 innings of work. Over his MLB career, Lindblom is 7-11 with a 4.26 ERA and 181 Ks in 190.0 innings. 

The Brewers are 4-0 in their last four Friday games and 5-2 in the last seven overall. Milwaukee is 3-10 in their last 13 road games and 2-7 in their last nine during game three of a series. 

Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 5-0 in their last five versus the National League Central and 6-2 in their last eight overall. St. Louis is 5-2 in their last seven games as a favorite and 3-7 in their last 10 Friday games. 

Pick: I think I’m going to lean Brewers here. Of course, doubleheader games (especially seven-inning sprints in 2020) are always a tough call. Ponce de Leon has been pretty good lately as well. He gave up two runs in five innings on three days’ rest in his last start versus the Pirates last Friday. That said, this is the second game of a doubleheader, and the bullpens are going to be gassed on both sides. Even with his recent success, I’m not sure Ponce de Leon will stay in very long either. All in all, probably one to stay away from regardless.