Stephen Nover's MLB Thursday Totals Crusher
(MLB) Arizona vs. St. Louis, 04/05/2018 3:15 PM, Score: 3 - 1
Total: 7.50 | -105.00 Under
Result: Loss
Arizona has some outstanding hitters. The Diamondbacks are fifth in runs. St. Louis is underrated offensively. The Cardinals rank No. 2 in homers. The Cardinals have power from top to bottom as evidenced by eight different players hitting at least one home run this season.

The pitching matchup is Robbie Ray versus Adam Wainwright. Ray is off a bad first outing giving up six earned runs in five innings, including three homers, against the Rockies. Ray has a 6.52 ERA in three lifetime starts against the Cardinals. Ray is being priced like an elite pitcher with this low total. He's not. Ray is a big strikeout pitcher, but he's not "A" level.

Wainwright is getting the start as more of a ceremonial gesture since this is the Cardinals' first home game of the season. The 36-year-old likely is washed-up. He had a 5.11 earned run average and 1.50 WHIP last season.

The weather is good for the hitters with temperatures in the mid-to-high 50's and wind blowing out to left at 12-14, which is particularly bad news for Ray being a lefty.