SAN FRANCISO GIANTS -110 - The Giants are now in a position to wrap up this series here at Pac Bell, where they are always extremely tough, and I think that they will get the job done. Rueter has arguably been the Giants? most consistent pitcher this season, going 15-9 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, counting the post season. He just about always pitches well enough to win, as evidenced by the fact that the Giants as a team are a fantastic 26-9 in all of his starts! Sure Rueter?s 2 playoff starts have both been rough ones, but those both came on the road. In his last 2 HOME starts against the Cardinals, Rueter only allowed 2 earned runs and just 10 hits in 14.1 innings. Also, San Francisco is an amazing 9-1 in Rueter?s last 10 starts vs. St. Louis. The Cardinals probably would like no one else other than ace Matt Morris on the mound tonight. However, the Giants pummeled Morris at St. Louis for 7 earned runs and 10 hits in just 4.1 innings in Game #1 of this series, and things don?t figure to get any easier for him on the road. Although Morris?s overall numbers are almost identical to Rueter?s (3.57 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), Morris has been much more inconsistent this season than in past years, looking either brilliant or as bad as he looked in Game #1. At this cheap price for an excellent home team, I will side with the much more consistent Rueter in this spot.
