St. Louis @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2014 ) St. Louis 1, San Diego 12

The St. Louis Cardinals look to regroup in time to salvage Thursday’s series finale against the host San Diego Padres following a disheartening 12-1 loss Wednesday. “It was probably our ugliest loss of the year,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told reporters. “It was terrible. It’s just not what we do.” St. Louis has lost six of its last eight to fall 2 1/2 games behind National League Central-leading Milwaukee, while San Diego has won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

The Cardinals acquired starting pitcher Justin Masterson from Cleveland on Wednesday for minor league outfielder James Ramsey, and the team could be seeking some offensive help after scoring one run in each of the last three games. San Diego and St. Louis are the two lowest-scoring teams in the majors, but the Padres could be on the verge of a breakthrough after matching their season high with 16 hits Wednesday. Second baseman Jedd Gyorko sparked the outburst with a home run and four RBIs, and he’s 6-for-11 since coming off the disabled list Sunday.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (7-8, 4.20 ERA) vs. Padres RH Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2, 1.66)

Miller returned from a brief stint in the bullpen and held the Cubs to two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings last Saturday. The 23-year-old made a case to stick in the rotation by retiring the first nine batters and not issuing a walk. Miller, who is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two career games (one start) against San Diego, owns a 7-3 mark with a 2.93 ERA in 21 career games (15 starts) after the All-Star break.

After posting a 1.31 ERA in his first five starts, Despaigne issued five walks and allowed five runs (two earned) over 3 2/3 innings against Atlanta last Saturday. “He was trying to be a little too fine, kind of hitting the corners instead of making pitches,” Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal told reporters. Opponents are batting .203 against the Cuban-born Despaigne, who was signed May 2 as a minor league free agent.

WALK-OFFS

1. Masterson, who is expected to start Saturday against Milwaukee, was 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts for Cleveland.

2. The Padres pitching staff has posted a major league-best 2.31 ERA since June 18.

3. Cardinals 1B Matt Adams is 4-for-22 over his last five games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Padres 4