St. Louis @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2012 ) St. Louis 3, Detroit 1

St. Louis has mastered the art of keeping its collective head above water. The 35-34 Cardinals avoided falling under .500 for the fifth time, thanks to a complete-game 3-1 win by Jake Westbrook on Wednesday night. They go for the rubber game Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Wednesday’s loss was only the Tigers’ second in their last seven games. The preseason division favorites are still under .500 at 33-35, but find themselves just three games out of first in the AL Central.

Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera is hitting .308 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs despite going 0-for-4 Wednesday. Four of his last six hits have gone for extra bases.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS-D, FS-M

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (6-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jacob Turner (NR)

Lohse boasts an impressive 50-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has produced nine quality starts in 14 outings this season. Batters are hitting .257 against him. He has allowed four earned runs on 15 hits over his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings.

An injury to Drew Smyly (blister on left middle finger) forced the Tigers to call up Turner, who went 0-1 with a 8.53 ERA last year. A former first-round pick, Turner was expected to make the roster out of spring training but had a dead arm. He posted a 3.43 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A.

WALK-OFFS:

1. St. Louis RHP Chris Carpenter threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and is expected to face some Cardinals hitters before Friday’s game in Kansas City.

2. Cards OF Carlos Beltran reached base four times Wednesday, singling twice and drawing a pair of walks. A first-inning single extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

3. Turner grew up in the St. Louis area and played at Westminster Christian Academy, the same school where Cards manager Mike Matheny’s son, Tate, starred this year.