St. Louis @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( May 3, 2010 ) St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 3
Citizens Bank Park is known as a hitter's paradise, but you wouldn't know that when Adam Wainwright pays a visit.
The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander has tossed eight shutout innings in two career appearances in the City of Brotherly Love.
Wainwright (4-1) will look to keep both individual and team success going when the Cardinals face the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of a four-game set on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Georgia native, who has recorded a quality outing in 23 of his last 24 starts, certainly has the credentials to lead National League-leading St. Louis (18-8) to its ninth win in its last 10 games.
Wainwright was named the NL Most Outstanding Pitcher (Players Choice Award) and finished third for the NL Cy Young Award - which was won (again) by San Francisco Giants phenom Tim Lincecum.
Perhaps more importantly, Wainwright also doesn't routinely surrender the long ball - in fact, he hasn't allowed one in 32 2/3 innings. Taken a step further, Wainwright has allowed just 13 home runs in 32 starts dating back to mid-May of 2009.
Philadelphia (14-11) counters with Cole Hamels (2-2), who struggled in his last outing - heck, he's labored in three of his five outings this season. The 26-year-old left-hander did strike out 10, but also allowed four earned runs and nine hits in six innings against the Giants on Wednesday.
Hamels has had mixed success when the Cardinals come calling, posting a 2-2 mark with a 4.22 ERA in six starts against St. Louis. The left-hander hasn't faced the club since 2008, however.
Since the 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player hasn't faced the Cardinals in two years, then he hasn't faced red-hot rookie David Freese.
Freese's three-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning as St. Louis posted a 6-3 victory over Philadelphia on Monday.
After going 2-for-5 in the contest, Freese has 14 hits in his last 27 at-bats during his current seven-game hitting streak.
Should the Cardinals' blistering pitching and Freese continue to excel, the slumping Phillies will have a hard time avoiding a ninth loss in 15 games.