Chris Carpenter looks to continue his dominance over the Pirates and help the St. Louis Cardinals continue their pursuit of a division title in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at PNC Park.
He has a 0.73 ERA in winning his last five starts against the Pirates and is 10-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 12 starts lifetime against them. He has not lost to Pittsburgh since yielding three runs in six innings of a 3-0 defeat on June 29, 2004.
The Pirates, losers of 10 of 12 overall, have been outscored 34-16 in losing a season-high five straight home games.
Paul Maholm looks to help Pittsburgh end its slide, while breaking out of a little funk of his own against a St. Louis team he has fared well against.
Maholm is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in his last three starts after going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his previous two. The left-hander gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Washington on Sunday.
Maholm hasn’t faced the Cardinals since the season opener, yielding two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-4 win, but did not get a decision. He is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last three starts versus St. Louis.
Based on the schedule, the Cardinals have their best chance to make some headway toward a potential playoff berth in the next 3 1/2 weeks.
Beginning with a three-game series that starts Friday in Pittsburgh, the Cardinals will play 19 of their next 22 games against teams with losing records, including 16 with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, San Diego and Washington, which have the four worst records in the National League.
Following two off days this week (Thursday and Monday), the Cardinals' starting pitching is loaded for the three-game set at Pittsburgh. In order, the Cardinals will have their three best in Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Pineiro.
Carpenter notably has been deadly against Pittsburgh. Including a win against the Pirates in St. Louis on April 9, he is 10-1 against the Pirates in 12 career starts.
A strong Comeback Player of the Year candidate, Carpenter is 10-3 after not winning the previous two seasons as he fought elbow and shoulder problems.
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Brad Thompson was suspended for three days and fined an undisclosed amount for his pitch near the head of Mets 3B David Wright in the sixth inning Wednesday. Thompson has appealed the suspension.
--RHP Kyle Lohse is expected to rejoin the team in Pittsburgh on Saturday to throw a bullpen session, preparatory to his next scheduled start Monday at home against Cincinnati. Lohse, who hasn't won since May 23, was lit up by the Mets on Wednesday, a day after learning of the death of his cousin in a California jet ski accident. Lohse returned to California for the memorial service.
--LF Matt Holliday and 1B Albert Pujols aren't on the same page quite yet. Holliday went 20-for-33 while Pujols was struggling. Now, Pujols has had two homers, three doubles and a single in the last two games, while Holliday has gone 1-for-10 in those two games and 1-for-14 in his last three.
BY THE NUMBERS: 39 -- At-bats without an extra-base hit for 1B Albert Pujols before he doubled July 29.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's a relentless hitter, is what he is." -- Manager Tony La Russa, on hot-hitting LF Matt Holliday.
ROSTER REPORT
--CF Colby Rasmus, an offensive stalwart just before the All-Star break, has seen less and less playing time. Rasmus, seemingly weak after an early-summer illness, has six hits in his last 64 at-bats and looks slow at the plate.
--1B Albert Pujols is 7-for-9 with five grand slams and 24 RBIs this season when hitting with the bases loaded.
--INF Mark DeRosa has just eight other hits besides the seven home runs he has hit in 81 at-bats as a Cardinal. His sprained left wrist probably still is bothering him.
--3B David Freese, who was on the opening-day roster before being sent out and then having more trouble with an ankle injury suffered in a winter car accident, has begun hitting for power at Class AAA Memphis. He might rate a September recall.
MEDICAL WATCH:
SS Brendan Ryan (bruised left ankle) left the July 30 game, and he did not play July 31-Aug. 5. He is day-to-day.
3B Troy Glaus (right shoulder surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a minor league rehab assignment July 11. He was shut down in late July because of recurring back pain, and he won't resume action before Sept. 1.
LHP Jaime Garcia (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League on July 23.