On the surface, Game 5 seems to set up well for the Giants.  Bumgarner, the Giants’ ace, is 3-1 with a 0.59 ERA and .152 opponents’ batting average in his last four postseason starts.

Wainwright, meanwhile, may be watching his reputation has a big-time postseason pitcher slip.   He’s started two games in these playoffs, failing to make it through five innings in either. He’s 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA this postseason, and he allowed three runs – two of them earned – on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in a Game 1 loss in this series.  Elbow discomfort and mechanical issues are at least partly to blame

Behind Bumgarner, the Giants are -145 favorites at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, with the Cardinals getting back odds of +135. The total for Game 5 is 6 runs (OVER -115).

NLCS Game 5, Thursday, October 15, 8:07 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 Giants lead 3-1 Series Price: Giants -900/Cardinals +600, opened Cardinals -140 (South Point) Season Series: Giants won 4-3 World Series odds: Royals 4/5, Giants 6/5, Cardinals 12/1 (Westgate)

Hope for St. Louis can be found in Bumgarner’s mediocrity at home.  In five home postseason starts, he is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA and .282 OBA, including a Game 3 loss to Washington in the NLDS. On the road, he’s 4-0 with a 0.55 ERA and .174 OBA in five outings with a scoreless innings streak of 26 2-3.

At home against St. Louis in Game 1 of the 2012 NLCS, Bumgarner gave up six runs and eight hits in a loss, lasting just 3 2/3 innings.  In a July loss at home to the Cards, he allowed four earned runs in five innings.

Manager Bruce Bochy says he’s not concerned about these perceived problems at home.

“It’s always good to have your ace waiting in the wings,” Bochy told MLB’s official website.

Conversely, Wainwright has excelled away from home, going 11-6 with a 2.07 ERA in 19 road starts, including a win in San Francisco, where he allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings.

“Until last year’s NLCS, I was undefeated in the postseason, and I just don’t want to get a bad rap for not being a good playoff pitcher,” Wainwright said. “That’s the time I want to shine the most. … I know I’m capable of doing that.”

The Linemakers’ lean: The plus-money price is right on St. Louis today.

Says our baseball handicapper Micah Roberts, “I like the Cardinals today, 3-2. Bumgarner, for some reason, is just not his self at home compared to the road. Wainwright won 2-0 his last time at AT&T Park. He’s still somewhat gimpy, but he’ll battle.” 

Live odds: NLCS Game 5 lines from Las Vegas

Information from STATS/Associated Press was used in this report.

St Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants, Game 5 props, Westgate

Total Strikeouts thrown by: Adam Wainwright (StL) Over 5.5 EVEN Under 5.5 -120Will Adam Wainwright (StL) allow a Home Run? Yes +175 No -200Total Strikeouts thrown by: Madison Bumgarner (SF) Over 6.5 -110 Under 6.5 -110Will Madison Bumgarner (SF) allow a Home Run? Yes +140 No -160Most Total Bases (Single=1, Double=2, Triple=3, Home Run=4, All else=0) Matt Carpenter (StL) +115 Hunter Pence (SF) -135Most Total Bases (Single=1, Double=2, Triple=3, Home Run=4, All else=0) Matt Holliday (StL) +115 Buster Posey (SF) -135Most Total Bases (Single=1, Double=2, Triple=3, Home Run=4, All else=0) Jhonny Peralta (StL) EVEN Brandon Belt (SF) -120Most Total Bases (Single=1, Double=2, Triple=3, Home Run=4, All else=0) Randal Grichuk (StL)-110 Joe Panik (SF) -110Total Number of Different Players to Throw a Pitch in Game #5 Over 7.5 -110 Under 7.5 -110Total Runs+Hits+Errors by: Cardinals+Giants Over 22.5 -110 Under 22.5 -110**Players must start for action; No Parlays; Game must go at least 8.5 or 9 innings for action