St. Louis @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2013 ) St. Louis 2, San Diego 4

Getting to the .500 mark once seemed like an unreachable task for the San Diego Padres, but they are two wins away as they host the St. Louis Cardinals in Tuesday’s second contest of a three-game set. The Padres, who got off to a 5-15 start, defeated St. Louis rookie phenom Shelby Miller in Monday’s opener and have won 16 of their last 24 games to get to 21-23. The Cardinals have lost three of their last five.

St. Louis started May with 11 wins in 13 games before the recent hiccups. The Cardinals have the best record in the National League and possess a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central. St. Louis hopes to have third baseman David Freese back in the lineup Tuesday. He sat out the opener after being spiked in his right hand during Sunday’s game with Milwaukee. Monday’s victory was the fifth in seven games for San Diego. Outfielder Chris Denorfia had three hits and is 8-for-20 over his last five games to raise his average to .301. Will Venable hit his team-leading seventh home run.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (5-3, 2.51 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (3-4, 5.55)

Wainwright has a stellar 1.36 ERA in eight career outings against San Diego, including five starts. He is 3-2 against the Padres with 42 strikeouts against nine walks in 39 2/3 innings. Wainwright lost to the New York Mets in his last outing – allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits in six innings – after tossing a two-hit shutout against Colorado in his previous outing. Wainwright has fanned 63 and walked five in 64 2/3 innings this season.

Volquez lost to the Washington Nationals in his last outing when he gave up five runs and five hits in five innings. He had gone 3-0 over his previous outings before giving up five or more runs for the third time this season. Volquez is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four home starts. He is 2-4 with a 5.32 ERA in eight career outings against the Cardinals.

WALK-OFFS

1. 1B Yonder Alonso (26) is the only San Diego player with 20 or more RBIs.

2. Cardinals OF Matt Holliday is batting .412 with two homers in 17 career at-bats against Volquez.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley is 2-for-12 with five strikeouts against Wainwright.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Padres 3