Milwaukee @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 17, 2013 ) Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 7
The results when the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers square off have been exactly as one would expect in a clash between first- and last-place teams. The National League Central-leading Cardinals will try to continue their dominance over the cellar-dwelling Brewers when the teams play the second contest of a three-game series Saturday at Busch Stadium. St. Louis has won seven of eight meetings this season after a 7-6 victory in Friday's series opener.
Milwaukee is mired in an awful stretch, having dropped 13 of its last 15. The Brewers are 1-7 on their road trip and 6-13 away from home this season. The Cardinals have won 13 of 16, and have continued to win while working through their issues. Edward Mujica has helped shore up the back end of the bullpen, and third baseman David Freese broke out of a slump with a grand slam Friday - doubling his season RBI total with his first homer of the year.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (3-2, 5.32 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (6-1, 2.88)
Estrada got a couple extra days of rest before his last start and made the most of it, holding Pittsburgh to one run on three hits over seven innings to earn his first win since April 19. The Cardinals have been a nemesis for Estrada, as he is 0-4 with a 6.59 ERA in nine games (four starts) against St. Louis. The Cardinals knocked him around for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings May 5, but he notched a quality start in a no-decision against them April 14.
Lynn has recorded five straight quality starts after holding the New York Mets to three runs over seven innings in his last outing to earn his sixth win. He did battle some control issues, though, allowing a season-high five walks. Lynn has missed Milwaukee both times this season, but is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in six games (two starts) against the Brewers in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers are 0-16 when scoring fewer than four runs and 2-16 when allowing more than four.
2. Cardinals C Yadier Molina is 8-for-15 with a homer against Estrada, and OF Matt Holliday is 6-for-12 with a homer against him.
3. Milwaukee 3B Aramis Ramirez recorded his 26th multi-homer game with a pair of three-run shots Friday. He has 32 career home runs against St. Louis, more than all but two teams (Houston, 42; Milwaukee, 34).
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Brewers 3