St. Louis @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2015 ) St. Louis 4, LA Dodgers 2

Former Texas A&M teammates Michael Wacha and Ross Stripling pitch against each other for the first time as major leaguers when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Wacha and the Cardinals have begun a six-game Southern California road trip in strong fashion, completing a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday with a 12-10 victory.

The 24-year-old Wacha and 26-year-old Stripling are former roommates from their tenures with the Aggies, and the hurlers engaged in trash talk early in the week before temporarily putting their friendship on pause until after Friday's game. The topic of facing one another in the big leagues did arise in college and it is about to become reality. "I don't remember a specific time talking about it, but it was like, 'Can you imagine if we get drafted and pitch against each other in the big leagues?'" Stripling told reporters. "And now it’s going to happen, which is pretty crazy." The Dodgers blanked the New York Mets on Thursday behind Clayton Kershaw's three-hitter to split a four-game series and win for the fourth time in six contests.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (2-3, 3.12 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (0-2, 3.82)

Wacha has lost three consecutive starts and hasn't won since defeating San Diego on April 23. He has allowed four home runs during the three setbacks after keeping the ball in the park in his first four turns. Wacha is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers and has struggled to retire Justin Turner (3-for-5) while shutting down Joc Pederson (1-for-7).

Stripling was pulled after 7 1/3 no-hit innings in his major-league debut and remains winless as he takes the mound for the seventh time. He allowed just one run and one hit in six frames against Toronto in his last turn but settled for a no-decision. Stripling has not fared well at Dodger Stadium, going 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA and a .303 batting average against in three home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals OF Matt Holliday matched his career high of four hits as the DH on Thursday and went deep twice for his second multi-homer performance of the season and the 21st of his career.

2. Los Angeles 1B Adrian Gonzalez has gone 18 consecutive games without hitting a home run.

3. St. Louis 3B Matt Carpenter belted a three-run shot on Thursday, has recorded two hits in four of his last five games and is batting .341 with four homers this month.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Dodgers 3