There are many fans and experts in the world of baseball betting that are still, at this very moment, nearly half a year later, wondering how the St Louis Cardinals did not win the MLB World Series last year. The Cards were, on paper, by far the best team in the NL baseball betting and even matched up favorably with the Yankees.

The Cards were all but written in as the 2009 World Series champs at the beginning of the playoffs only to lose in the first round. The team has had plenty of time to sit and stew about what might have been in the baseball betting last year and they’ll bring that with them into the 2010 MLB odds action.

The main reason why the Cards were so highly favored last year and finished with such a stellar record (91-71, NL Central champs) was because of the team’s embarrassing riches in the pitching rotation. During last year’s baseball betting the top three in the Cards rotation accounted for an astounding 51 MLB odds victories, averaging 17 wins apiece. Adam Wainright, Chris Carpenter and Joel Pinero lit up opponents all year long and Wainright and Carpenter were even short listed for the NL Cy Young Award.

All three will be back this season and looking to improve upon their lofty 2009 stats. That will be tough considering the Wainright racked up 19 wins, 212 Ks with a 2.63 ERA and Carpenter led the team with a 2.24 ERA and a stellar 17-4 record. Former Cy Young winner Mark Mulder is also back in the mix this season and if he can duplicate any of his past success this unit will once again make the Cards one of the World Series favorites.