The NL Central Division leading St. Louis Cardinals (64-52) host the NL West's last place team, the San Diego Padres (49-68) this weekend for a three-game set. Don't let the records fool you, however. This could be a land mine for the Cardinals. The Padres, although they have a bad record, are 15-14 against the NL Central, and are 11-5 since July 27th.
The Cardinals will need to be on top of their game to make sure they can get the series win. The Cardinals will throw out Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro and Kyle Lohse, all coming off wins in their last starts. They will be facing three young pitchers in Mat Latos, Tim Stauffer, and Clayton Richard, two of whom (Latos and Richard) won games against the Mets and Brewers in their last starts, and Stauffer was a hard luck loser against Johan Santana and the Mets in his last start. Stauffer is a former first round draft pick for the Padres, so all three starters will attempt to get wins for the Padres and this will not be a series in which the Padres will lie down.
The Chicago Cubs will face the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend, so the Cubs will be looking to gain ground on the Cardinals in the NL Central race. This weekend will be yet another interesting weekend in the race, and should shed further light on where the NL Central is going the rest of the way.
Showing posts with label Kyle Lohse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Lohse. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Cards 3 Up and Hungry for More
With a win last night against the woeful Cincinnati Reds, the Cardinals improved their record to 63-51 and are now 3 full games over the slumping Chicago Cubs (58-52). Now ahead of the Cubs in the loss column, the Cardinals have a chance to gain further ground. The Cardinals have 2 more games against the ailing Reds today and Wednesday, and another 3 game series against the lowly Padres, while the Cubs are at home for three games against the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies. If the Phillies are able to win a couple from the Cubs, and the Cardinals do what they are supposed to do against the Reds and Padres, the 3 game lead could become even more. With only 50 or so games remaining in the season, it would be nice if the Cardinals could get a little breathing room in the NL Central race.
What was very encouraging in the win against the Reds last night was the outstanding pitching performance of Kyle Lohse, who pitched 6 innings, gave up one run on only 4 hits and had 3 K's. If Kyle Lohse can get hot (and this win against the Reds, who look like a Triple-A team right now doesn't count, but it is a start), that would be a big step for this Cardinal team who are looking for a solid 4th starter.
Mitchell Boggs will pitch against the Reds for Todd Wellemeyer who has gone on the DL. I'm guessing they just don't want him to start. Things look on the up and up for the Redbirds.
Go Cardinals!
What was very encouraging in the win against the Reds last night was the outstanding pitching performance of Kyle Lohse, who pitched 6 innings, gave up one run on only 4 hits and had 3 K's. If Kyle Lohse can get hot (and this win against the Reds, who look like a Triple-A team right now doesn't count, but it is a start), that would be a big step for this Cardinal team who are looking for a solid 4th starter.
Mitchell Boggs will pitch against the Reds for Todd Wellemeyer who has gone on the DL. I'm guessing they just don't want him to start. Things look on the up and up for the Redbirds.
Go Cardinals!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Cards Sweep Pirates, Go 2 Up Over Cubs
What a big weekend for the Cardinals (62-51) who are now 2 full games ahead of the Chicago Cubs (58-51) and 6 full games ahead pf both the Milwaukee Brewers (55-56) and the Houston Astros (55-56). While the Cardinals swept the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Cubs lost 2 out of 3 to a hot Colorado Rockies team in Colorado.
The only negative for the Cardinals is that the Chicago Cubs have the same amount of losses (51). The Cubs simply have played 4 fewer games than the Cardinals and they could theoretically win all 4 games which would put them in a dead heat. The Brwers and Astros being 6 six games back just seem a little too far back to be real contenders in the race for the NL Central crown and now it definitely seems to be a two-team race between the Cardinals and the Cubs.
The big problem for the Cardinals if they want to win this division is the back end of their rotation. Kyle Lohse has not done well since he has returned to the rotation after many injuries, and Todd WEllemeyer has gotten lit up time after time. Amazingly, Wellemeyer after being sent to the bullpen will get another start on Tuesday at home vs. the Cincinnati Reds. If the Cardinals want to win the division, they need to find at least one good starter to get them through to the end of the regular season and give them a solid fourth starter for the playoffs.
My prediction is that the Cardinals will need to go 30-20 in their last 50 games to win the division, which would put them at 91-71. With Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro pitching well this is a real possibility, but you can't hope that all three pitchers win all their games from here on out, so either Lohse or Wellemeyer or someone else (Boggs?) is going to have to step it up.
The only negative for the Cardinals is that the Chicago Cubs have the same amount of losses (51). The Cubs simply have played 4 fewer games than the Cardinals and they could theoretically win all 4 games which would put them in a dead heat. The Brwers and Astros being 6 six games back just seem a little too far back to be real contenders in the race for the NL Central crown and now it definitely seems to be a two-team race between the Cardinals and the Cubs.
The big problem for the Cardinals if they want to win this division is the back end of their rotation. Kyle Lohse has not done well since he has returned to the rotation after many injuries, and Todd WEllemeyer has gotten lit up time after time. Amazingly, Wellemeyer after being sent to the bullpen will get another start on Tuesday at home vs. the Cincinnati Reds. If the Cardinals want to win the division, they need to find at least one good starter to get them through to the end of the regular season and give them a solid fourth starter for the playoffs.
My prediction is that the Cardinals will need to go 30-20 in their last 50 games to win the division, which would put them at 91-71. With Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro pitching well this is a real possibility, but you can't hope that all three pitchers win all their games from here on out, so either Lohse or Wellemeyer or someone else (Boggs?) is going to have to step it up.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Cards lose, split series - Is there an invisible ceiling for the Cardinals?
Kyle Lohse (4-7) gave up 5 runs and 7 hits in 2 and 2/3 innings as the Cardinals lost to the New York Mets at Citi Field 9-0. Even though the Mets lost their starter Jon Niese in the second inning to an injury, the Mets shut out the Cardinals behind excellent relief pitching, something that the Mets lacked last night in their 10 inning loss.
With the loss, the Cardinals dropped to 59-51 and a half game behind the Chicago Cubs, who play the Cincinnati Reds this evening.
the one positive of the day for the Cardinals was that Albert Pujols continued his hot streak that began yesterday by hitting 2 doubles in the game.
Since the Cardinals reached a record of 17-7 on May 1st and then lost their next game on May 2nd(to the Nationals 6-1), the Cardinals have had six opportunities to get back to .500 and have lost them all. If the Cardinals want to win the NL Central they are going to have to crack through this invisible ceiling and get over the 10 games over .500 mark. If the Cardinals finished the season 10 games over .500, their record would be 86-76, a mark that would not likely earn them a playoff bid.
the Cardinals this weekend play a three game set with Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, so this will be a great chance for the Cardinals to hurdle this invisible ceiling.
With the loss, the Cardinals dropped to 59-51 and a half game behind the Chicago Cubs, who play the Cincinnati Reds this evening.
the one positive of the day for the Cardinals was that Albert Pujols continued his hot streak that began yesterday by hitting 2 doubles in the game.
Since the Cardinals reached a record of 17-7 on May 1st and then lost their next game on May 2nd(to the Nationals 6-1), the Cardinals have had six opportunities to get back to .500 and have lost them all. If the Cardinals want to win the NL Central they are going to have to crack through this invisible ceiling and get over the 10 games over .500 mark. If the Cardinals finished the season 10 games over .500, their record would be 86-76, a mark that would not likely earn them a playoff bid.
the Cardinals this weekend play a three game set with Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, so this will be a great chance for the Cardinals to hurdle this invisible ceiling.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Can the Cardinals win the NL Central?
With two months to go, the Cardinals are leading the second place and red-hot Chicago Cubs by a half game, but are two back in the loss column. Do the Cardinals have what it takes to win the NL Central? The rotation is very top heavy, with Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro doing great work, but Kyle Lohse is just back off the DL and Wellemeyer has been relegated to the bullpen. Can the Cardinals win with just 3 solid starters? The Cubs rotation is much stronger all around, but their bullpen has given up games, as they did to the Marlins Sunday (a big thank you to Kevin Gregg for blowing the save!).
My prediction is that Tony LaRussa will get the Cardinals into the playoffs - whether they win the division or not I'm not sure, but both the Cubs and the Cardinals will be very good in August and September and both might make the playoffs. The Giants, Rockies and Marlins are all getting hot too, so I am not sure the Cardinals can count on the wild card.
One thing is for sure, Albert Pujols needs to get hot again. Matt Holliday can't keep this pace up for much longer! Go Cards!
My prediction is that Tony LaRussa will get the Cardinals into the playoffs - whether they win the division or not I'm not sure, but both the Cubs and the Cardinals will be very good in August and September and both might make the playoffs. The Giants, Rockies and Marlins are all getting hot too, so I am not sure the Cardinals can count on the wild card.
One thing is for sure, Albert Pujols needs to get hot again. Matt Holliday can't keep this pace up for much longer! Go Cards!
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