Despite pains, Pods rate edge over weary Cards

The Padres are back in the postseason for the first time since 2006 and will be facing the team they saw the last time they were there — the Cardinals.

San Diego enters the postseason with an ailing starting rotation. Mike Clevinger, the team’s big trade-deadline acquisition, might not pitch at all. The news on Dinelson Lamet, who left his last start due to a biceps injury, seems to be significantly more encouraging. That’s huge considering Lamet has given up just one run in 12 starts in the first time through the batting order and has posted a 2.09 season ERA with 12.1 strikeout per nine innings.

He will have the edge of facing a Cardinals team that had to play 23 games in 18 days to end the season and now has to travel to the Pacific time zone for the first time all season.

The Cardinals will need Jack Flaherty to look more like he did in the second half of the 2019 season as opposed to the 2020 version. Flaherty had a 0.91 ERA in his final 15 starts of 2019. This season, he’s posted a 4.91 ERA and gone five innings or fewer in seven of his past eight starts.

The Cardinals are in the top 10 in the majors in team ERA but have been in the bottom half over the past 30 days, which might be a result of the breakneck schedule.

Despite the starting pitching injuries, the Padres have the edge in this series as their offense ranks third in MLB in runs per game while the Cardinals are in the bottom six. Combine that with San Diego having the No. 2 bullpen ERA the past 30 days, and it should provide betting opportunities on the Padres both game by game and to win the series.