Philadelphia @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2013 ) Philadelphia 1, St. Louis 4

The St. Louis Cardinals have won eight of their last nine home games, and they look to add another when they continue a three-game series with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. St. Louis owns the best record in baseball (60-37) and leads the National League Central by 1 1/2 games over Pittsburgh. The Phillies are fading from the playoff race, sitting two games below .500 and trailing NL East-leading Atlanta by seven games.

The Cardinals won the series opener 4-1 and need one win in the next two games to claim the season series from Philadelphia for just the second time since 2001. Cardinals right-hander Jake Westbrook will face the Phillies for the second time this season after allowing three runs over six innings and settling for a no-decision in a 7-3 loss April 21. Philadelphia has lost three straight and its offense has been at fault lately, managing only one run over the past two games.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH John Lannan (2-3, 3.76 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (6-4, 2.88)

Lannan was dominant in his last two outings before the break, allowing one run and eight hits over 16 innings. The 28-year-old is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts since returning from the disabled list. He has fared well in seven starts against the Cardinals, going 2-2 with a 2.53 ERA.

Westbrook has recorded three straight quality starts, and he picked up a win in his first outing after the All-Star break. The 35-year-old limited the San Diego Padres to two runs over 6 1/3 innings on Friday. Westbrook is 2-1 with a 4.41 ERA in six starts against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. The last time the Philies scored one run or fewer in three straight games was from May 25-27, 2010.

2. Cardinals 1B/OF Allen Craig is 14-for-34 during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Phillies 2B Chase Utley went 3-for-4 on Tuesday, giving him five games with at least three hits this season - all on the road.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3