Houston @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 11, 2010 ) Houston 6, St. Louis 3
It has been a frustrating season so far for Houston's Wandy Rodriguez and St. Louis' Kyle Lohse.
One of them figures to catch a break tonight when the two square off at Busch Stadium.
Lohse has continued to regress from his breakout 2008 season, in which he went 15-6 for the Cardinals. He slipped to 6-10 a year ago and watched his ERA spike from 3.78 to 4.74, and he's off to an even worse start this year.
He has failed to last even five innings in two of his six starts, including his last outing Thursday, when he gave up five runs (three earned) on nine hits over four innings in a 7-2 loss at Philadelphia.
Lohse pitched well against the Astros on April 15, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings, but he was the tough-luck loser in a 5-1 defeat. He is 6-6 with a 2.95 ERA in his career against Houston, which includes 12 starts and one relief appearance.
Astros outfielder Michael Bourn has been a thorn in the Cardinals' side - he is 8 for 16 against them after going 2 for 5 Tuesday - but Lohse has had his number. The speedy center fielder has only three hits in 23 at-bats against Lohse.
St. Louis needs Lohse to turn in another good showing against Houston. The Cardinals have lost five of their last seven, and their offense has been dismal in those defeats, scoring only six runs combined.
The Cardinals' lead in the NL Central is down to two games over Cincinnati, which beat Pittsburgh 9-0 on a one-hitter by Johnny Cueto on Tuesday. St. Louis hasn't spent a day outside of first place all season and the two-game margin is its smallest in more than three weeks.
Rodriguez hopes to keep the Cardinals headed in the wrong direction while reversing the course of his season. After enjoying the best year of his career in 2009 with a 14-12 record and a 3.02 ERA, the 31-year-old lefty has struggled at times this year, especially recently.
He had three quality outings in his first four starts, but he has been pounded for 10 runs and 19 hits in 8 2/3 innings over his last two starts. The Cardinals roughed him up for four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 in a 5-0 win April 12.
Catcher Yadier Molina has had the most success among the Cardinals against Rodriguez, going 9 for 19 with seven RBIs against him.
Outfielder Ryan Ludwick is 10 for 16 against the Astros this season after a 3-for-4 game Tuesday, but he has struggled in his career against Rodriguez, going 4 for 22 lifetime against the lefty.