Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2010 ) Milwaukee 1, St. Louis 7
The St. Louis Cardinals are going to have to avoid these little letdowns if they hope to reach the postseason this year.
The Cardinals will be looking to rebound after a tough series when they open a quick two-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
St. Louis seemed to be staking its claim as the team to beat in the NL Central last week when the Cardinals went into Cincinnati and swept the Reds to earn a one-game edge in the standings. But with the rival Chicago Cubs in town over the weekend, the Cardinals suddenly lost their mojo.
St. Louis dropped two of three to the reeling Cubs, falling a game behind Cincinnati again in the process. Co-ace Chris Carpenter was outpitched by Carlos Zambrano on Saturday and Kyle Lohse returned from an extended stay on the disabled list on Sunday and was pounded for seven runs in three-plus innings.
With a weekend series on deck against the San Francisco Giants - who are one of many challengers for the NL wild card - the Cardinals would be wise not to overlook another weak opponent in the Brewers.
Milwaukee has dropped five of seven to fall nine games below .500 in a season that has become a lost cause. One of the biggest areas of weakness all season has been the bullpen, and that reared its head again on Sunday when Trevor Hoffman permitted a walk-off single to Troy Tulowitzki in the bottom of the ninth.
Hoffman, who is 2-6 with five blown saves despite losing his closer's job within the first month of the season, has 597 career saves and seems determined to get to 600. The former All-Star could get a few save opportunites ahead of closer John Axford down the stretch, perhaps giving fans a reason to come to the park.
Dave Bush will be looking to secure Hoffman a save opportunity when he gets the start on Tuesday.
The veteran right-hander has been getting crushed lately, allowing five or more earned runs in three of his last five starts. Bush surrendered seven runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, including back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning.
Bush made his first start of the season against St. Louis on April 9, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings en route to a no-decision. He has never had much success against the division rivals in his career, owning a 2-6 mark with a 6.40 ERA in 10 games.
Jamie Garcia will be hoping to round back into form on Sunday for the Cardinals. The rookie right-hander has allowed 12 runs - eight earned - over his last two starts in a total of 12 1/3 innings. He managed to earn a win at Cincinnati on Tuesday despite allowing four runs and issuing five walks in 5 1/3 frames.
Garcia is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year in a stacked National League crop, but he will need a strong finish to outlast Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward, San Francisco Giants phenom Buster Posey and Florida Marlins upstart Gaby Sanchez.
The 24-year-old Garcia dominated Milwaukee on July 2, yielding three hits in seven scoreless innings while striking out seven to earn a win.