2010 World Series: St. Louis Cardinals Odds

The St. Louis Cardinals were something of a surprise team in 2009 as their pitching staff entered the season as something of a question mark but ended the season with respect as one of the best in all of baseball. The Cardinals finished 91-71 and champions of the National League Central Division as their pitching staff ranked 4th best in all of baseball for staff earned run average. Starting pitchers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright make for one of the best one-two combinations in the game which is why the St. Louis Cardinals are 12-1 in 2010 World Series odds.

Carpenter is the number one starter in St. Louis and is coming off a phenomenal 2009 season in which he went 17-4 with a 2.24 earned run average. For his stellar efforts Carpenter won the 2009 National League Comeback Player of the Year award. Carpenter has a career mark of 117-74 with a 2.24 earned run average. He was the 2005 Cy Young Award winner. Wainwright went 19-8 last year with a sparkling 2.63 earned run average. He was the 2009 Gold Glove Award winner in the National League and has a career ERA of 3.17. Closer Ryan Franklin is yet another asset in the Cardinals arsenal.

Franklin finished 2009 with a mark of 4-3 with a 1.92 earned run average and had 38 saves in 43 chances in his first full season as a closer. The Cardinals are not lacking on offense either and a large part of their success is based on what could be considered the most feared hitter in the game with first baseman Albert Pujols. Pujols hit .327 last year and had an on base percentage of .443. The 2009 National League Most Valuable Player hit 47 home runs, 45 doubles, and drove in 135 runs. With Pujols and their solid pitching, the St. Louis Cardinals should come out of the weak National League Central Division ready for a post season run.